To spank or not to spank?

[drfuzzy]

My Mother "spanked" me.  A lot.  I'm still covered in scars from her "spankings".  Her favorite thing was her "railroad track".  It was a Hot Wheels Track piece.  She wound one end with duct tape for a handle.  She would swing that thing until she was exhausted.  I was her stress relief and punching bag, and I still thought it was all my fault, I was an evil little demon child who didn't pray and read her bible enough.  (I never spoke back.  I got straight A's in school. These "spankings" would be over a spoon that I didn't get clean enough, or dust on my dresser.  I got it about three times per week, from the age of 4 until 16.)
She also burned me with the tip of her clothes iron, to show me what hell was like.  She is, after many decades, still the most terrifying person on the planet.

I have seen parents give their toddlers a quick swat on the behind, and it worked.  Got their attention.  I have heard stories of spankings (even with a switch) where the buildup and discussion were much worse than one or two quick swats with a switch.

I would worry about the possibility of a parent losing their temper and going far beyond.  I think, after much study of psychology and motivation, that there are much better methods of parenting.  There are ways to get even a toddler to a basic understanding of cause and effect, as just one example.