(There are so many issues with *spank* tags (& related tags),
that my brain is feeling worn out trying to write a post that makes sense of it all,
i think I'll start thread with a simplified post)

So currently spanking wiki says

A character being spanked by another character; that is, being struck on the
butt with an open hand with sufficient force to hurt, but not to leave permanent
injury. Often used as a sexual fetish in and of itself, but also commonly associated with
bondage, domination and submission, and other aspects of BDSM.

Not to be confused with

• butt_slap

...

(with ass_smack, spank, ass_slap all aliasing to spanking)

Shouldn't ass_slap alias to butt_slap instead??

Some taggers seem confused by various *spank*, *slap*, etc tags, WITH:
1) some posts tagged with spanking, but not depicting spanking (as e621 wiki currently defines it)
2) some posts tagged with butt_slap, but not depicting butt_slap (as e621 wiki currently defines it)
3) etc

Suggest use of tags that are more clear:

1) tags for what is spanking:

• spanking_by_hand (or similar tag)
• spanking_by_object (paddle, whip, etc)

Wikipedia defines Spanking as "... involving the act of striking the buttocks of another person ..., generally with an open hand. More severe forms of spanking, such as switching, paddling, belting, caning, whipping, and birching, involve the use of an object instead of a hand. ..."
(ie. you can spank someone with an object)

2) who is spanking

• spanking_another (ie. someone else)
• slapping_own_butt (a followup post will be about how butt_slap is confusing some taggers)

and MAYBE
3) what is being spanked/etc

(is there a general term for when a non-butt part is being struck by object such as paddle,whip,etc?)

butt slap wiki says:
"Images that clearly depict a character slapping their own butt. ..."

Some taggers seem confused by butt_slap tag. (the wiki is very clear, so I guess those taggers aren't checking the wiki):

with post #1943318 , post #1935682 , post #1840078 , post #1813893 , post #1810098 ,
post #1807672 (attempted grope instead?) ,
post #1792989 ( patting_butt instead ?)
post #1778794 , post #1772052 , post #1770126 , post #1758599 , post #1752581 , etc ETC,
NOT depicting self-slapping.
Mostly depicting being spanked by someone ELSE.

Perhaps butt_slap should alias to slap_own_butt, slapping_own_butt, or similar? (for clarity)

(and what about the butt slap in sports?? ...or is that more of a butt_pat / patting_butt ?)

Some leftover spank*/slap* thoughts that made my brain tired.

One main thing is whether a bottom's butt being hit by (inanimate) object(s) (paddle, cane, etc) be considered spanking. (I'm fine either way)
(related: 4th largest *spank* tag is hand_spanking ... which seems to be hand spanking partner's butt)
(related: 3rd largest *spank* tag is cum_from_spanking ... where about 13 of them should be retagged to cum_from_paddling .... IF paddling butt isn't considered spanking for e621 tagging.)

Only made it partway through writing about *spank* tags below.

Current *spank* tags (type general):

(only the first two has wiki pages)
1) 3222 . . . spanking . . . general (wiki: spanking )
2) 1163 . . . spank_marks . . . general (wiki: spank_marks )
3) 54 . . . cum_from_spanking . . . general
4) 43 . . . hand_spanking . . . general
5) 18 . . . spanking_machine . . . general
6) 3 . . . post_spanking . . . general (retag post #890205 to spank_marks. retag post #30166 to paddle_marks ?)
7) 2 . . . sucking_and_spanking . . . general (post #1509662 and parent. Split into 2 tags? (oral tag and a spank* tag) and add threesome tag)
8) 2 . . . spanking_threat . . . general (seems reasonable tag)
9) 2 . . . ball_spank . . . general (post #1330728 & post #1303073 both with no motion-lines and tagged with ballbusting, change ball_spank tag for both images to spank_marks_on_balls ?)
10) 2 . . . ball_spanking . . . general (both #1382338 and post #904896 have motion lines and hand on balls, simplify to ball_spank ?)
11) 2 . . . implied_spanking . . . general (probably ok for post #1661595 . Change post #458512 to spank_marks )
12) 2 . . . spanked_butt . . . general (re-tag as spank_marks?)(post #362645 and parent post)
13) 2 . . . tail_spank . . . general (depict tail slapping own butt ) (re-tag as tail_slap_own_butt ?)(post #1121832 and parent post)
14) 2 . . . autospanking . . . general (ie. slapping own butt )
15) 1 . . . cockspank . . . general (post also tagged with cockslap which has 183 posts (wiki "When a person's cock slaps their partner."), but maybe cockspank could be for when person-A's penis spanks their partner on butt. (post #1437994 )
16) 1 . . . spanking_bench . . . general (looks appropriate)
17) 1 . . . spankings_markings . . . general (re-tag as spank_marks)
18) 1 . . . spanking_cane . . . general (looks like probably a cane)
19) 1 . . . spankmarks . . . general (post deleted)
20) 1 . . . self_spanking . . . general (post #353945 , also tagged with butt_slap and slap .. re-tag image as slap_own_butt ?)
21) 1 . . . birthday_spanking . . . general (post #805265 , don't see anything in image to indicate birthday)

22) 1 . . . spanking_marks . . . general (post deleted)
23) 1 . . . impending_spanking . . . general (post deleted)
24) 1 . . . royal_spanking . . . general (post deleted)
25) 1 . . . imminent_spanking . . . general (post deleted)

For spanking (& similar) with object Wikiedia has :

• "Flagellation ..., flogging, whipping or lashing" : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellation "beating the human body with special implements such as whips, lashes, rods, switches, ..."
• Spanking : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanking "striking the buttocks of another person ... generally with an open hand. More severe forms of spanking, such as switching, paddling, belting, caning, whipping, and birching, involve the use of an object instead of a hand. ..."
• Belting : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belting_(beating)
• Birching : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birching
• Caning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning
• Crop_(implement) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_(implement)
• Paddle_(spanking) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle_(spanking)
• Scourge (ew!)
• Slippering : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippering
• Strapping : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strapping_(punishment)
• Switch : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch_(corporal_punishment)

(i think that's it)

* * * IGNORE sillyness below
EDiT: ok, seeing "caning" above made me wonder if there art of someone being caned by a candy_cane.