my dad beat me with a steel chair and now I'm a piece of shit. argument diffused
You were going to be a piece of shit whether your dad beat you or not. You're just a part of the determined minority that is intent on self abandonment. You won't quit until you've totally destroyed yourself, and most likely others in the process. You're a hard case.
Are you saying I didn't/don't have a choice in the matter? My brain is the only one I have, you know? I guess to suggest that beating me up wouldn't have had a positive effect on me either way, would also seem to suggest that we are mostly hardwired from the get-go and any attempts at discipline, regardless of the nature, will only have a minimal impact on our overall upbringing and eventual personality, lifestyle, etc. I'm sure there's no lack of evidence either way to ensure that discipline, be it physical, emotional, verbal, or non-existent, ultimately results in a myriad of types of people who fall into each and every category possible... physically abused - grew up to make all the honor rolls and graduated with honors, becomes successful, etc. or physically abused - grew up to get into drugs and other heathen activities and pissed life away, or physically abused - grew up to finish H.S. and work a shitty construction job for many years, 2 divorces and a few assault charges. .... and so on and so forth.
I know you know what I'm saying. Perhaps you could reveal a statistic that correlates hitting your child and eventual success. I would tend to think that it wouldn't do much more than make the kid hate authority, or absolutely respect it. Both are scary but the latter is far scarier. You have a kid who believes everything he hears and is afraid to question things. No bueno.