strangers in a foreign land

i really wish i knew who made the "you'd be lucky to look as good" comment. i hate the whole anonymous posting option. :)
i had a long discussion with a raving five year old through a shut door tonight. he was in time out and he had earlier informed me that if i put him in his room that there was no way he's stay there so when the time came i dumped him on his bed, shut the door and sat down outside with my body pressed against it. after he pounded and ranted for five minutes and after a ten minute talk, his apology finally sounded like it came from a sincere heart, so i let him out. i told his parents what route of discipline i took and they said that if that didn't work in the future to just tell him he wouldn't get his b-day party if he didn't listen. that's right up there with telling a child that santa won't come if they don't eat their veggies. what's the point of promises you don't intend to keep???