I think that's a fair comment. The unfortunate thing is the majority of shouty over-sensitive parent-types have been given media attention to their "holier than thou" and generally in-theory-only opinions about what makes good and bad parenting.

It's actually interesting the effect this has had in society shows how lacking in confidence many parents are, such that they will actually change their parenting behaviours based on such media-guilt-shame fluff. This highlights to me a woefully under-served market in "parenting instruction".

I've smacked my kids when they deserved it, when verbal doesn't work. It was a rare occurrence, but undeniably effective. My kids are great. Flipside: They're still a long way from adulthood and "proving me right", and they're also a single data point in both parenting choices and genetics.