In my job as a social worker working with teens, I ran parents groups that were all about helping parents TO discipline their kids and STOP letting them get away with no consequences for anything. Even been involved with situations requiring that police be called to help kids know that some things are bigger than others and no free pass allowed. Lots of kids resented me as their parents developed a backbone and many parents were too coddling of their little darlings to do anything that might get them angry.
This mailman situation is certainly one of those and the consequences should be equal to the offense
I'm glad to hear that monrein, but I got in trouble once for disciplining my adopted son in public. I don't remember what it was about anymore because it was like 12 years ago but I received a disorderly conduct citation and I still feel I didn't deserve it. They told me you have to use time outs and no more that a minute timeout for each year they are old. 10 year old would be disciplined with a timeout, no more than 10 minutes otherwise it is considered too severe. Nuts in my book, however I don't believe in beatings either.