One Saturday morning I have an errand to run, so I leave you to complete your chores, saying I should be back in a few hours. You know what you are supposed to do, so I leave you to it. When I arrive at my destination, the person did not come in due to some family emergency. I reschedule and head home.
When I arrive, I expect to find you cleaning house and doing laundry, but instead you are on the computer. You try to exit quickly, but I see what you were doing.... playing games and chatting in a private chat with someone. I ask what you were doing, and you reply, "nothing sir." I saw what you were doing, so your answer is extremely displeasing because one of the primary rules is you never lie to me.
I don't say anything else. I stand there and you are trying to shrink away, looking as submissive as you can because you can see how displeased I am. You realize you not only broke the rule about using the PC before your chores are done, you know you lied to me too.
The first is a simple infraction that would likely get you some time in the corner and a loss of computer privileges for a few days. However, the second (lying) is serious and you know it. As you kneel by the computer, you wait for my response and then it comes....
"Go to your corner!" I say. You immediately run to the designated corner, strip off all your clothes, kneel with your back straight and your nose pressed against the wall. Hands are above your head, with fingers interlocked. This is your punishment position.
You have always been told how long you will be in the corner, but this time that was not given, so you wonder and worry how angry you have made me and are feeling guilt and sorrow for being so disobedient. A tear runs down your face as you realize how much this means to the relationship and how terrible this situation really is....
After what seems like an eternity, I come over to you. "I have you in the corner, so you realize you have disappointed me terribly with your behavior. More importantly, I needed to calm down so I could punish you without anger. Do you understand?"