Different strokes for different folks, imo. People have been raising kids since, well, a long time ago Even mother animals (lions, horses, dogs) will physically reprimend their babies when they get out of line. If a swat on the behind makes your kid pay attention to you and it works, so be it. If you need to quickly swat your kid;s hand to prevent him from knocking a store display over.. it is just ludicrous to me for people to call that abuse. It is logical and in the long run much better than the consequences for kid, mom, dad, and store!
My issue is with actual child abuse. Real beatings that leave bruises, mental and physical scarring. I know of several friends of mine that endured Brutal physical abuse as kids and had to watch their moms get it too from their fathers. (I also know a man who endured abuse from a longterm girlfriend; I am by NO means saying that women can't be abusive as well.) To me, there is no reason why a kid should ever be beaten this strongly and violently. A quick swat to the butt, or a smack in the hand to deter them from, say, grabbing a hot kettle.. that is a far cry from what my one friend underwent. If she so much as made a sound, her stepfather beat her badly. She to this day, will NOT sneeze out loud; she stifles it to her own discomfort; that saddens me.
And no; I have no kids. But I do have a stepdaughter.. and well, I feel qualified posting here because, well, not so long ago I was a kid too. I only got hit as a last resort, and I knew that the possibility was there because I had gotten it before! So I knew when to back off of things and listen to an adult. My grandma and her wooden spoon never left horrible, counseling-inducing, suicide-causing trauma to me..