I know that I certainly didn't think it was very loving for my parents to send me to my room every time I did something bad. That was horrible. But they did it lovingly, and I learned my lesson. I've know lots of people who weren't beat who hate their parents, and I know lots of people who were who love thier parents. I think the thing is the love, not the means of punishment.
I hit my dogs. If they're missbehaving, I'll give them a slap across the muzzle, and if they're really misbehaving, I'll give them a kick. They still love me.
Yeah, I definitely don't think that's a very good way to reward children.
Not true. they could be exactly equal, but people will still have to make a choice. And one will get chosen. Just because one gets chosen over the other does not make one better. It just means that the individual preferred that method.
It's not what you do, it's how you do it.
I don't necessarily think hitting is preferrable but is certainly not undesirable.
I've seen a child do that with a time out, too. Some kids don't respond well to hitting. I probably wouldn't have been the best kid to hit. On the other hand, my brother just didn't care if he got time out. Those are the kids to hit.