spanking (child discipline): a thought and a few questions?

[J.Brown]

spanking, swatting, or disciplining children by striking them as a means of punishment is a huge cause of debate for most young/new parents.

EDF'ers what is your take?
where you spanked as a child?
if so do you feel it was effective as discipline?
if not what was your form of "punishment" for rule breaking?
do you spank your own children or do you plan to?
are there guidelines that should be followed if spanking?
if so what are they?

i was spanked as a child.

i am ok with it, although my parents both now admit that my father was much to strict with me, but i am ok with that as well.

i was usually spanked several times with a wooden spoon until i cried or they knew i had really "felt" it.

i was then almost always explained to what i had done wrong and why i had been spanked. then hugged and pacified....(sometimes "against" my will at this point, as you can imagine) and told that i was loved and that was the end.

it was effective for me and i learned and never hated my parents for it, but i was a good kid and it was fairly rare in general.

i have two young sons. i do not plan on ever spanking, but i am not sure why exactly. the oldest is 3 and can obviously knowingly act out and break rules, but i could just never imagine actually spanking him until he cried.
timeout works just fine for now.

that being said. what are your thoughts and experiences with child discipline and the most effective forms you have used, seen, felt, or been a part of??

later. J.