Beating sounds like you're taking out your failures on your kids.
Spanking is when you realize that the reprecussions from them not getting a lesson through their head, like don't run in the street or don't touch something hot is far worse than a swat to the hand or bottom. And it's easiest to associate what not to do with minor pain. It's the easiest thing to comprehend. So my kid gets a slap to the back of the hand and doesn't get hit by a car. Fair trade off.
People who say "beating your kids or not" are obviously hesitant that they don't have a case by not making it an extreme Because to actually call it what it is would seem far more reasonable. You guys know what you're doing by categorizing it all as "beating". You're being melodramatic to make the other side seem more extreme. Nobody supports beating kids.
Just like nobody sees a swat on the butt and thinks "omg, this person just BEAT their kid. Call 911!"
Numerous studies have been done to show that even this "spanking" ultimately has a bigger negative impact than any positive. You can teach children these important things without hitting as well, it's not like all the countries where it's banned have children not knowing basic life lessons.