When I was raising mine, these were my rules:
1) Only use a rod - a thin flexible twig or similar substitute
2) Only use the rod against rebellion, not disobedience or poor performance
3) Never use the rod in anger, or while angry
4) Never use the rod in public or where others can see - It’s not to embarrass the child
5) Make sure the application of the rod is age appropriate, and only once or twice at a time. Then give the child an adequate opportunity to end his/her rebellion.
6) Remain calm, and make sure your spouse is in agreement with the application of the rod and is also calm.
The neighbor should not have used that profanity in the presence of any child, his children or the other man’s son. That was wrong.
IMO.
Are you Jewish or Christian?