MetaChat - It is not a big deal.

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30 October 2008

It is not a big deal. The comments there suggest some kind of extreme danger or abuse. Bullshit. The forces involved are not extreme, the kid is being gently sent through graceful arcs. I have done similar (not quite so ambitious) with my little boy and he LOVED it, begged for more.

Now the music, well that's another issue.

post by: Meatbomb at: 18:28 | 16 comments

The video wouldn't load for me, but if a child younger than six or seven is being swung around by his or her arm, that's lots of fun and not child abuse. But kids' shoulder joints aren't strong enough to support more than their own weight, and there is a risk of dislocation, so you gotta be really gentle.

posted by Specklet 30 October | 18:42

Oof. My dad dislocated my shoulders three times when I was a kid doing the old swing-around. It wasn't abuse, and I didn't learn not to ask for it any better than he learned not to do it.

posted by mudpuppie 30 October | 18:44

y'know, I do think that's a little extreme...

posted by DarkForest 30 October | 18:45

While I wouldn't say child abuse I think it's pretty risky at the intensity level he's going at. As Specklet says dislocation is a big issue - I would be worried about a mistake resulting in an injury.

On the other hand I would strangle my husband if I saw him try to do this with Stinky Bum here.

Kids do like rough play but I guess you have to know both yours and their limits with it.

And of course - play better music. Sheeesh.

posted by gomichild 30 October | 18:46

Damn video won't load.

posted by puke & cry 30 October | 18:51

...being gently sent through graceful arcs...

I'd sorta hoped that there would be a trebuchet involved.

posted by Zack_Replica 30 October | 19:08

Axshully (sp?), I couldn't watch this video to the end. I wasn't cool with this one. Normally, I don't mind throwing children in the air and all that superman stuff...
I really disliked all of the things that could cause nursemaid's elbow. Personally, I ain't cool with this.

posted by msali 30 October | 19:37

I would call it stupid even though he looks like he has skills.

I thought about the shoulder thing as well immediately, and nursemaids elbow. Back in childbirth classes our instructor told us to never throw our babies. It's very good advice. When he's swinging the kid by it's ankles, head down, that is nuts. Pure nuts. I feel bad for this baby's neck and brain.

posted by LoriFLA 30 October | 19:42

I couldn't watch the whole thing either. It might or might not be abuse, but either way it is terrifying to watch, and quite truthfully, if you're doing something like that so you can film it to put on Youtube, you need to do some thinking about some things.

posted by loiseau 30 October | 19:59

I had a babysitting job tonight (my first in YEARS! Babysitters make good cash these days, I'm in the wrong line of work, for sure), and I'll admit it, I was tempted.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 October | 20:27

I stopped thinking it was okay when the baby was all wonky in the middle intermission - just a bit too young to be that dizzy. He certainly looked as though he was laughing his head off at the end, but is that because he was enjoying himself or hysterical/ oxygen-deprived? A couple more years and I'm sure he would have been having a ball.

posted by goo 30 October | 21:30

This is shocking and scary...that you have a kid.

posted by Hellbient 31 October | 07:53

[rhythmic clapping]

Take yer babby by the arm,
Swing him round, cain't do no harm!

[rhythmic clapping]

Swing that critter high 'n' low,
Spin him round 'n' watch him go!

[rhythmic clapping]

Toss yer babby in the air,
Ketch him by his fragrant hair!

[rhythmic clapping]

Grab his ankles, ain't this fun?
Flip him like a pancake, son!

[rhythmic clapping]

Fold yer toddler up real small,
Bounce him like a rubber ball!

[rhythmic clapping]

Feed him to a hornet swarm,
That's how babby dance is formed!

posted by Atom Eyes 31 October | 11:48

*tries to think of nicknames for a baby Meatbomb*

Meatgrenade?

Meatmine?

Meatcracker?

posted by BitterOldPunk 31 October | 13:53

Porkpopper

posted by danostuporstar 31 October | 14:02

This is shocking and scary...that you have a kid.

Actually, I feel better knowing that Meatbomb is supervised.

*tries to think of nicknames for a baby Meatbomb*

Flash In The Pan?

posted by StickyCarpet 31 October | 15:28

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