is something undeserved, violent and teaches nothing. Time outs are a punishment. Taking away privileges is a punishment. Any non-violent consequence to bad behavior is a punishment. The dictionary hasn't changed the meaning of the word, so neither should anyone else much less demanding that arbitrarily changed meaning be forced on anyone else.
The word punishment does not mean exactly the same thing as discipline. Discipline is the entire structure of teaching what is appropriate behavior and what isn't. Punishment is that portion of the discipline that is the consequence of bad behavior in the form of restitution/penance for that bad behavior, ie: the punishment of the bad behavior of talking back is having to do the extra chore of cleaning the dishes every day for a week or going without the iPhone or tv or some other pleasure for a length of time, etc.
Punishment in the form of some sort of restitution/penance as a consequence of bad behavior is a necessary and useful tool. Not only is the lesson learned but the child is also given the opportunity through that punishment to absolve any guilt or bad feeling of the bad behavior and a sense of having removed it's black mark evening the scales once again through giving back. Of course I never liked punishments like groundings or extra chores or other removal of privileges at the time, but afterword I always felt better in performing that restitution and feeling that my slate was clean once again and could then put the entire experience behind. Punishing a child through a form of restitution/penance is a great lesson that also allows them the opportunity of redeeming themselves. It's also a great lesson for adults that also allows them redemption through restitution/penance.
That's why AP needs some form of punishment for his bad actions - so that his victims, society and himself can be satisfied that there was a consequence for his actions appropriate to those actions through his restitution/penance.
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