[aurelius]

By definition, they are uncivilized savages. They are born not knowing how to behave in a civilized way. They also act like it too, from time to time.

Note that I explicitly and carefully said: "Unreasonable savagery can not be made civilized through reasonable discussion." The only reason that children can be taught to be civilized is because they do have some faculties of reason, and those abilities get stronger with age and appropriate training. When they are young, children learn best by imitation. So, of course, if a parent acts like savage, the child will too.

However, what we were talking about was the appropriate response to those times of "unreasonable savagery". So stop being a pedant, and changing the subject. Is a smartphone crippling app an appropriate tool for a parent to use in response to a teenager who is acting like an uncivilized tool? Absolutely. Is your view on children disconnected from reality? Absolutely. Do you also have wacky views on crime and punishment? I'm going to say yes there too.