The Nigerian Culture And Self Esteem

1. there really isn't any committeeyour singular experience/that of others who had it bad does not negate mine - have an open mind

2. I agree fully - caning/other forms of discipline are no guarantees, just like driving safely is no guarantee that someone else will not hit you. But it is every parent's duty to train his/her child in the way he/she knows best with the child's best interest at heart.

3. I obeyed my parents, because they taught me rightbut before that a little fear played a role till I was mature enough to understand the reason. The reason for telling a kid not to play with fire may not be clear to him/her, but the fear of punishment keeps him/her away from it till such a time when understanding comes.

There are some issues with the upbringing methods Nigerians use, but it is definitely moral for a large part, and my experience with those of many people I know backs that up. We are a product of our upbringing/surroundings for a large part so that cannot be easily discountenanced.

I do know kids who have gone the wrong way because of beatings, but many more in my view go wrong because of parents' desire to 'protect' the children unduly - especially in these 'enlightened' times. A balance needs to be struck in the application of these principles.