A spanking and a beating could be interpeted as the same thing but a spanking is punishment for a wrong doing, a spanking for no reason is still abuse.
I was also thinking, it may be possible for the NPCs to have different personalities on different difficulty levels. Maybe that's why there's so much difference in our stories. Think that's possible?
no , the dialog is the same only game play is harder
Grelod complains about:
- Samuel talking about his parents all the time (he does, but only towards the player)
- one of the kids crying all night and keeping her from sleeping
- coins being missing from her supplies, and she suspects that the girl has stolen them
- supplies running low
- the place being filthy because the children don't ever clean up the place (they don't indeed, but neither do the advlts)
- that there hasn't been an adoption for ages.
there is war . dragons , a filthy city , you want gerold to be cool ?
I have detailed files uploaded by SkyNet.
Move in next to me, beat your kids so that I can hear it, and lets see what happens.

if my kids talked to strangers or dope or trying to hurt anyone or make a life threat situation or attacked me i will
beat them . if you send the police i will respect your decision , if you enter my property and trying to show my little girl
who is da man in the block i will kill you where you stand .
you want to know who i am ? i cant show you here please accept my pm to you . lets see haw much you and and you regime care
for children feelings .