Then you are alright letting people expressing acceptance for "limited physical punishment" for spouses and elderly parents, right?
I recognize that child spanking is a bad thing that largely exists due to old traditions. I get your point. My point is that people are the way they are due to the environment they grew up in in many cases. Just banning them doesn't really do anything when the discussion didn't at least appear to be unhinges. I'd rather open the floor of discussion for those that are more moderate since they at least are approachable about their views.
And I don't like to get all high and mighty about because there's always things people can point out that we do are cruel. A vegetarian can list out all of the abuse I create by eating meat. I don't really have an argument against them beyond I like meat. I've cut down on my meat consumption but I don't see the value in a vegetarian to just cut out all contact from me if I'm approachable. And if you think that it's bad to compare children being abused to animals being raised horribly and slaughtered for food, then that just speaks to your value system.
My whole point isn't to defend physically punishing children. I'm against it. I'd just rather not ban people when they are at least approachable with their views that are harmful. We all change through discourse.
And what do you consider "light spanking on the butt"? Because hurting a kid is not "light", and if it doesn't hurt them then what is the point in using it as punishment?
This is the disingenuous stuff I'm taking about. I don't see any point in playing these gotcha word games. It's clear I mean a parent spanking a child with light force compared to the harder force they could potentially apply. We both know what I mean. Yes, pain is being inflicted in both cases. I'm against both cases. You get that right? If somebody told you "I lightly spank my kid on the butt when they misbehave" and another said "I punch my kid when they misbehave", I assume you would have different reactions to both. You don't see how the first person can be talked to?