InOBU didn't say "all of you" - he said "a lot of you". (And that was referring to people in general, not just to those who said they hadn't ever been beaten.) And from my knowledge of people it's quite right to say that a lot of parents still smack their children and sometimes a lot more than just smack them - and yet mostly these aren't "bad parents", any more than a mother (or father) who is a rotten cook is a "bad parent". Just not too good at coping with a difficult job.

In previous generations (20, 30, 40 years ago) kids were hit more often and more severely than they are today. In fact isn't very long at all since the assumption in mainstream society was that it was only feckless and irresponsible parents who were unwilling to chastise their children when they misbehaved. Neglecting their moral duty as parents - "Spare the rod and spoil the child."

Ironically, in the light of this thread, it was one of the criticisms levied against Gypsies and Trfavellers that they failed to discipline their children properly.

'road' to 'rod' fixed by mudelf ;-)