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I can swing to both ends of the spectrum.  there are times I should tell DS not to do something, but if it won't seriously injure or kill him then I let it slide for a little bit. There are other times he has been told 15 times not to do something and he continues to do it and that is when I feel like I'm being too harsh.  He is only 17 months right now and I used to use time outs but we have no where for time out right now so I lost that ability.  Once we move I am going to figure out a time out spot and go back to that.

I don't know which is more detrimental.  I think it depends on the behavior.  If a kid is doing something to test the boundaries then it is okay to an extent, but if a kid is blatantly doing something they know they shouldn't then there should be a consequence of some sort.   

 Thats a tough one but I'd say not disciplining enough is worse.

 Well said.  ;-)

Quoting CoeyG:

I don't consider "correcting" a child's actions to be discipline.  Discipline is a form of teaching and redirecting.  A child might not be doing something you want them to do however that doesn't always make them "wrong" or "bad" I also don't think there is a "worse" here.  To not discipline at all is simply bad parenting in that it does a great diservice to the child by not teaching the proper way to behave.  I've yet to witness any over discipline

Quoting CoeyG:

I don't consider "correcting" a child's actions to be discipline.  Discipline is a form of teaching and redirecting.  A child might not be doing something you want them to do however that doesn't always make them "wrong" or "bad" I also don't think there is a "worse" here.  To not discipline at all is simply bad parenting in that it does a great diservice to the child by not teaching the proper way to behave.  I've yet to witness any over discipline

This is similar to the impression I have also.  That the over-corrected child may be nervous, and the under-corrected child thinks the world is his oyster.

Quoting emmy526:

i think  over discipline causes a child to grow up and be more fearful of everything, due to having to watch their back their whole lives...it also causes a child to be more sneaky, too...i've seen this type of parenting, and the kids are really screwed up.....

on the other hand, i've seen NO discipline at all, and now grown kids are in jail, having their kids taken by cps, and their offspring are just as badly behaved, and no doubt, going to be another burden on society.