I's not the worst thing you can do to a child
There are times when a single swat to the buttocks lets the kid know they've crossed a line, and you're too tired, too busy, or just too pissed off with them to do a better job of parenting right at the moment. It's not child abuse, it's a handy short cut.

Plus, if they know you will do it, it can be an effective deterrent without being used. "Do you want me to smack you here in front of all these people?" will often cut through the vilest tantrum.

And if you don't think force is a reasonable tool to use against adults, tell that to the police, who are entitled to kill you if that's what it's going to take to get you to behave. Letting children go through early life with no concept of the fact that violence and force can and will be used against them if they transgress is no way to prepare them for the harsh realities of life.

If you don't have kids, your right to an opinion on the subject is severely restricted. If you have kids, and you've managed to raise them without ever using force, well done, you're a better parent than me, you win. If, on the other hand, this means that they think that no-one will ever lay a hand on them, you fail.
(Leo Sasquatch hates being the grown-up, Fri 2 May 2008, 10:20, Reply)