you can't compare the two... just stop.

Comparison: Both cause physical discomfort due to contact by another person. One caused pain while the other doesn't. The two have been compared. What are you gonna do about it?

hitting is abuse, just like tickling is. the nazis used it against the gays. they would tie them up and tickle them for hours on end. it causes psychological damage. I'm not saying a good tickle here and there is abuse though.

Tickling is actually how the abuse in my previous relationship started. He would tell me to do something for him and when I refused, he'd tickle me until I relented. What's disturbing about it is that tickling someone seems so innocent and fun. But then he moved onto other, darker ways of manipulating and abusing me, like insults, threats of suicide, and eventually actual violence. I'm not saying that tickling someone is always abusive, but when someone tickles someone to manipulate them or because they know they hate it and want to make them miserable, it is abusive.

Tickling CAN be pretty horrible. I'm not really a fan myself. And yes, it can cause pain, as well as making it hard to breathe and just generally feeling a bit tortuous. Bottom line, some people like it, some hate it and both are legitimate feelings. However, it doesn't sound like OP's son hates it so F OP's life that it ended up this way.

Actually, tickling CAN hurt and it can be compared to other painful things. It depends on the person but tickling can be quite unpleasant. If it's long enough, it's hard to breathe and it hurts to laugh and in extreme cases, a person can pass out or even throw up.

I'm not quite sure why, but I laughed at this.

I've know children who looked very well taken care of-- clean, well-clothed, polite-- but were victims of horrific abuse. So that's not a really good indicator of anything. If I had a student who seemed afraid or fearful of a parent or adult, I would voice my concerns no matter how well taken care of that child looks.

Psychological abuse can be just as bad as anything that leaves bruises. Just because you can't see anything, doesn't mean the parent can't be abusing the child. Gaslighting can end up destroying a person's life.

True but what if he didnt? What if he looked genuinely scared? My siblings used to chase me up the stairs, hold me down and tickle me until I cried. (My siblings were viscous). But now to this day I can't walk up the stairs in front of someone. I have to let them go first. Alls I'm saying is maybe the reason people were concerned is because of her sons reaction.. We can't assume they're idiotic or anything.

Realistically, if they have suspicion the child is fearful because of abuse and in public yeah it becomes their business and I don't think the OP would have an easy time explaining to the cops that's why he was scared. It does matter what people think.