Terrible uncalled for discipline in my neighborhoods

Growing up in philly, a lot of the neighborhoods are dangerous & rough. In general people like to "beat the sh*t" out of their kids when they misbehave where I'm from. They joke about it & actually give tips & share their stories with they friends & families. But because of the neighborhoods we live in its always fights, of course shootings & robberies etc. So they think by "toughening up" & beating their children is going to prepare them for when they get older. I'm not beating or hitting my kids when I have them because I use to get beat with heels of shoes, belts, punched & etc. & because of that I can NEVER hit my child & cause that type of pain. From age 5 - 11 getting beat with the heel of a shoe was the worst pain & it plays a part in my anger problems & the my disorder I have to this day. I personally won't hit my kids even though I'm not a very patient person, I rather only have to deal with kids. Would you beat your kids to toughen them up ?