Interesting debate

Not so long ago, this was on a tv show - This Morning I think, and they had a pro smacking guy being interviewed. He came out with the most ridiculous, desperate and (to me) sickening load of rubbish phrase I've possibly ever heard....... giving the children a "loving smack".

WTF!
Just be a man and say it - I hit my children because I think it's the best sort of discipline available, because their minds aren't developed enough to understand reasoning and explanation to the undesirability of their current actions, and therefore painful shock treatment is what I believe in. I don't like doing it, I love them to bits obviously, but they are kids and it's the only way I think works.
Loving smack? I've never heard anything so stupid!

Now this isn't my personal opinion necessarily - it's just my opinion of this man who was on the tv.

This however is where such a debate can split. I imagine too many parents hit their children out of their own frustrations and temper, rather than a discipline thing.
It also must always be remembered - children don't have anywhere as near a matured social and moral reasoning as adults.
If children ruled the country, we would be at war every day.

Would smacking children though still happen if adults were small and helpless, and children were big strapping blokes?