Please guys try to take a step back from this and lets not get so heated.
Parenting is the hardest job anyone can do and it doesn't come with a manual! Every child is a differnt person just as every parent is a different person and what works for one may not work for another. I don't think any of us would condone and out of control violent attack on child whether physical or emotional - believe me both are equally as bad - physical attacks may leave visible scars but the scars left by emotuional violence go unseen and are a take a lot more healing.
That said, would any of us stand back and watch our child cause themselves harm when negative reinforecement such as a flick or tap on the hand would prevent it? You may say that we should reason with a child while they are poking at a socket with a knife - but is there really time for that? Children are determined and often devious creatures (and it's not just the 2 year olds!) and sometimes lessons have to be learned very quickly, for their own safety.
As to the other kind of smacking, I'd say that most of us at some stage have been on the receiveing end of it - I know that on at least on occasion I had the wooden spoon treatment. At that time it was more commonplace and therefore more acceptable. TImes have changed and now it is seen as unnecessarily violent and quite frankly I agree. However, how do you deal with a child who is hell bent on destruction? I have already said that I have smacked my child - but only after everything else failed and that the "ceremony" was more painful than the smack - which was really no more than a short round of applause on his buttocks!
It seems to me that Jessiebean is reaching the end of her teather and has reached out for help, support and advice before things go wrong. And well done to her - it is a brave thing to do. What we have offered is based on our own personal experiences - some good and some bad, but all valid. It's now up to JB to decide her path and if she needs further help and advice - or even a more indepth explanation of any particular method I'm sure we'd be happy to offer.
It may be that she chooses to use some of the techniques offered or to seek advice from a more professional source. I think that what ever path is chosen we will all wish her the best of luck and let her know that we are here when needed.