I have seen abusive parents, and the Chief was NOT abusive! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

doglover · 09-19-2013, 09:24 PM

As I said in another post, I am a family law attorney. I see all kinds of family issues, and unfortunately, some of my cases involve child abuse. Kids are abused both physically and emotionally by their parents. To say that the Chief was abusive is absurd. He would not even be considered abusive for this day and age, much less back during the years that he was raising his kids. Was he a perfect father? The answer is clearly no. Was he a good father? The answer is yes.

The Chief believed in discipline, including spanking. Spanking is not child abuse. And spanking with a belt is not child abuse either. The belt has a bad reputation because there are so many cases where a belt is involved in a case of real child abuse. However, it depends on the *manner* in which it is used. Beating with a belt and spanking with a belt are two different things. Beating would be hitting as hard as a parent could mulitple times all over a child's body leaving bruises and maybe other wounds. Spanking is giving a few quick swats on the buttocks.

We never see the Chief give a spanking, but when he did I would bet he gave his children a few swats on their backsides. They learned their lesson and moved on. Of course they never wanted to get a spanking, and of course it hurt. It is *supposed* to. Since when is a child supposed to enjoy being punished? I'm sure if the Chief had figured out a way to punish his kids and have them enjoy it while still being effective, he would have done it. I have felt the belt before. Yes, no doubt it hurts, but it doesn't last. The girls probably had a few red marks on them afterwards, but no harm was done.

The girls would have been growing up in the 1970s and early 1980s. Back then spanking was not controversial. Kids got spanked then. Kids expected to get spanked for wrongdoing. And I can tell you, it is still in practice now. Despite all the controversy and "studies" on the negative effects of spanking, parents still widely use it. A lot of parents don't admit it, but they do. It's just that it is not politically correct anymore. How funny would it have been if the Chief had ordered Samantha to time-out after she uttered the racial epithet. If he had said that, Samantha would have probably said "huh, what, are you okay Dad?"

The Chief wasn't perfect. He made lots of mistakes. He wasn't always as understanding as he should have been. He yelled when he should have listened. He said things to his daughters that he shouldn't have. He lost his temper way too often. He made a big deal out of nothing sometimes. He wasn't sympathic when he needed to be at times. He was a bit sexist. He had prejudices. He was too old-fashioned on some things. But these things don't make him a bad father and certainly not an abusive one. His daughters loved him dearly. He took care of them and made sure they had what they needed. He would have given his life for them.

In the family court and juvenile system, I have seen all kinds of abuse. There was a mother one time who used her own child as a shield when her boyfriend was shooting at her. She picked the child up and held him in front of her to stop the bullet. Kids have had blackeyes and broken bones and burns and everything else. And the emotional abuse is sometimes worse with kids being told by their parents that they wish they were never born, that they are horrible kids, and that they wish they would die.

Were the Chief to go into family court, no way would his kids be taken away. Any judge would see the Chief as a great father. It is not necessary to agree with everything the Chief does. For instance, I think he was wrong to slap Julie and Katie. I don't like slapping. You could accidently injure an eye by slapping someone. But, I think he was sorry he did that. Things happen. Julie said she could never hate him. They talked it out and made up. After all, Julie was not innocent. She lied directly to her father and then blew smoke in his face. After losing his wife to cancer, that was more than the Chief could take.

The Kanisky girls were well-brought-up kids. They were taught right from wrong and manners. Their father and Nell loved them and took care of them. They were provided for. They were disciplined when needed. Well, sometimes Nell intervened and stopped it, but the lesson was learned.

Sorry. I didn't mean to make this so long. It's just that so many negative postings have been made about the Chief and his parenting, the family law attorney in me just had to defend him. He would be a great client, LOL.

irehtman · 03-19-2014, 10:41 AM

Chief is a terrible character, he is worser than both Mel Sharples and Mike Katowinski characters, IMO!

Smartboy · 03-20-2014, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irehtman

Chief is a terrible character, he is worser than both Mel Sharples and Mike Katowinski characters, IMO!

In the first place, why would you say that the chief is a terrible character? I thought that, in some ways, he was quite likable. On top of that, I know who Mel Sharples is. He was the chef on the sitcom "Alice". However, I do not think I have ever heard of Mike Katowinski before. Care to explain who he is?

irehtman · 03-20-2014, 07:41 AM

Mike was the coach in Hang Time from seasons 4-6. I liked that character than both this chief and Mel characters. Besides, the actor, who played Mike is still alive, but he retired from acting in correct time as a rich person, unlike both Dolph Sweet and Vic Tayback.

MRPITT · 03-20-2014, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irehtman

Mike was the coach in Hang Time from seasons 4-6. I liked that character than both this chief and Mel characters. Besides, the actor, who played Mike is still alive, but he retired from acting in correct time as a rich person, unlike both Dolph Sweet and Vic Tayback.

His name is Dick Butkus and he is probably more well known as the Hall Of Fame Linebacker for Da Bears!

irehtman · 03-20-2014, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRPITT

His name is Dick Butkus and he is probably more well known as the Hall Of Fame Linebacker for Da Bears!

But Dick acted alright in Hang Time, which is good enough, but at least he did better than both Dolph Sweet and Vic Tayback, according to the TV critics watching Hang Time.

After Hang Time ended, Dick retired from acting in a correct time as a rich person.

MacLeaper · 03-20-2014, 02:46 PM

Quote:

But Dick acted alright in Hang Time, which is good enough, but at least he did better than both Dolph Sweet and Vic Tayback, according to the TV critics watching Hang Time.

After Hang Time ended, Dick retired from acting in a correct time as a rich person.

I don't know about the Hang Time and Alice comparisons, other than I guess Coach Mike and Mel are both gruff characters like The Chief.
But I think all three characters are likeable. "Hang Time", "Alice" and "Gimme A Break!" are all great shows.
And I particularly agree with the first poster. The Chief was a good father to his children. He did discipline them and taught them respect and good manners and the difference between right and wrong- which is more than some parents seem to do on sitcoms today (and in real life, for that matter.)
I don't have an issue with him employing spanking as a discipline method; rather, I support it as it the method of punishment prescribed by God in The Bible. Yes, it can become child abuse if done to an extreme, but when it's truly done out of love (and that's the reason any discipline should be done- out of love and care for the child's wellbeing)- it can be an effective tool to correct wrong behavior in children.
"Gimme A Break!" is a fun show I enjoyed watching as a child. I haven't seen it in quite a while now though, but I did watch Season 1 on DVD a few years back. I love the show and the characters- it's all good.

MrCleveland · 03-20-2014, 05:14 PM

If I ever got married and have a family...this is a big IF because I may be celibate for the rest of my life...

I'd probably have a lecture for my children (a minute per age) about what I did and why I got disciplined.

I have mixed feelings about spanking...I was spanked when I was a boy, but I dunno if I wanna do that to my children...IF I ever have a family.

And yes...The Chief was tough on the show...even Nell and his father Stanley said so in a few episodes. But he was the head of the city police and sometimes you have to be tough...especially when Chief has to face Officer Simpson.

irehtman · 03-20-2014, 06:57 PM

Both Dolph and Vic could not reach 70 years old like Dick does, Dick is about to turn 72 this December.

Wawwie · 07-07-2014, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irehtman

Chief is a terrible character, he is worser than both Mel Sharples and Mike Katowinski characters, IMO!

I loved Mel Sharples from Alice. I thought he was very funny and very likeable at times. Not sure why the chief is being compared to Mel since they have nothing in common as characters. The chief was okay IMO.

Smartboy · 07-07-2014, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

I loved Mel Sharples from Alice. I thought he was very funny and very likeable at times. Not sure why the chief is being compared to Mel since they have nothing in common as characters. The chief was okay IMO.

The chief was okay in my opinion too. Not the best father in the world, but certainly not the worst!

09-19-2013, 09:24 PM	#1
doglover Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 19, 2013 Posts: 9	I have seen abusive parents, and the Chief was NOT abusive! As I said in another post, I am a family law attorney. I see all kinds of family issues, and unfortunately, some of my cases involve child abuse. Kids are abused both physically and emotionally by their parents. To say that the Chief was abusive is absurd. He would not even be considered abusive for this day and age, much less back during the years that he was raising his kids. Was he a perfect father? The answer is clearly no. Was he a good father? The answer is yes. The Chief believed in discipline, including spanking. Spanking is not child abuse. And spanking with a belt is not child abuse either. The belt has a bad reputation because there are so many cases where a belt is involved in a case of real child abuse. However, it depends on the manner in which it is used. Beating with a belt and spanking with a belt are two different things. Beating would be hitting as hard as a parent could mulitple times all over a child's body leaving bruises and maybe other wounds. Spanking is giving a few quick swats on the buttocks. We never see the Chief give a spanking, but when he did I would bet he gave his children a few swats on their backsides. They learned their lesson and moved on. Of course they never wanted to get a spanking, and of course it hurt. It is supposed to. Since when is a child supposed to enjoy being punished? I'm sure if the Chief had figured out a way to punish his kids and have them enjoy it while still being effective, he would have done it. I have felt the belt before. Yes, no doubt it hurts, but it doesn't last. The girls probably had a few red marks on them afterwards, but no harm was done. The girls would have been growing up in the 1970s and early 1980s. Back then spanking was not controversial. Kids got spanked then. Kids expected to get spanked for wrongdoing. And I can tell you, it is still in practice now. Despite all the controversy and "studies" on the negative effects of spanking, parents still widely use it. A lot of parents don't admit it, but they do. It's just that it is not politically correct anymore. How funny would it have been if the Chief had ordered Samantha to time-out after she uttered the racial epithet. If he had said that, Samantha would have probably said "huh, what, are you okay Dad?" The Chief wasn't perfect. He made lots of mistakes. He wasn't always as understanding as he should have been. He yelled when he should have listened. He said things to his daughters that he shouldn't have. He lost his temper way too often. He made a big deal out of nothing sometimes. He wasn't sympathic when he needed to be at times. He was a bit sexist. He had prejudices. He was too old-fashioned on some things. But these things don't make him a bad father and certainly not an abusive one. His daughters loved him dearly. He took care of them and made sure they had what they needed. He would have given his life for them. In the family court and juvenile system, I have seen all kinds of abuse. There was a mother one time who used her own child as a shield when her boyfriend was shooting at her. She picked the child up and held him in front of her to stop the bullet. Kids have had blackeyes and broken bones and burns and everything else. And the emotional abuse is sometimes worse with kids being told by their parents that they wish they were never born, that they are horrible kids, and that they wish they would die. Were the Chief to go into family court, no way would his kids be taken away. Any judge would see the Chief as a great father. It is not necessary to agree with everything the Chief does. For instance, I think he was wrong to slap Julie and Katie. I don't like slapping. You could accidently injure an eye by slapping someone. But, I think he was sorry he did that. Things happen. Julie said she could never hate him. They talked it out and made up. After all, Julie was not innocent. She lied directly to her father and then blew smoke in his face. After losing his wife to cancer, that was more than the Chief could take. The Kanisky girls were well-brought-up kids. They were taught right from wrong and manners. Their father and Nell loved them and took care of them. They were provided for. They were disciplined when needed. Well, sometimes Nell intervened and stopped it, but the lesson was learned. Sorry. I didn't mean to make this so long. It's just that so many negative postings have been made about the Chief and his parenting, the family law attorney in me just had to defend him. He would be a great client, LOL.

03-20-2014, 05:14 PM	#8
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,226	If I ever got married and have a family...this is a big IF because I may be celibate for the rest of my life... I'd probably have a lecture for my children (a minute per age) about what I did and why I got disciplined. I have mixed feelings about spanking...I was spanked when I was a boy, but I dunno if I wanna do that to my children...IF I ever have a family. And yes...The Chief was tough on the show...even Nell and his father Stanley said so in a few episodes. But he was the head of the city police and sometimes you have to be tough...especially when Chief has to face Officer Simpson.
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

03-19-2014, 10:41 AM	#2
irehtman Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2013 Location: Montgomery County, Maryland Posts: 4,826	Chief is a terrible character, he is worser than both Mel Sharples and Mike Katowinski characters, IMO!

03-20-2014, 07:41 AM	#4
irehtman Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2013 Location: Montgomery County, Maryland Posts: 4,826	Mike was the coach in Hang Time from seasons 4-6. I liked that character than both this chief and Mel characters. Besides, the actor, who played Mike is still alive, but he retired from acting in correct time as a rich person, unlike both Dolph Sweet and Vic Tayback.

03-20-2014, 06:57 PM	#9
irehtman Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2013 Location: Montgomery County, Maryland Posts: 4,826	Both Dolph and Vic could not reach 70 years old like Dick does, Dick is about to turn 72 this December.