Seriously.  That's the way it was.  Mom would get pissed and call dad, and then it was running time.  
I was never abused as a child, but when I fucked up, I got punished.  A smack to the ass just makes you learn.  A timeout in your room with cable, computer, phone, video games is just a reason to go and play with all of your shit.   
I actually have friends that were scared of my parents because I would get spanked.  They were all used to time outs and not being allowed to watch tv... 
-Marc