What's the difference between abuse and torture?

[JPJones]

Technically or legally. Rumsfeld seems to think there is a difference.

[arcane1]

1. America abuses, Saddam tortures

:crazy:

[JohnOneillsMemory]

11. SPELLING.

The implied difference, however, would be:

Torture-actions of evil dictators
Abuse-actions of loving parents who...make mistakes

This is why 'abuse' is being substituted for 'torture' to manipulate and suspend judgement. Pretty clever, ay?

The word framing issues are explained well by linguist George Lakoff:

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/10/27_lakoff.shtml

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=12&ItemID=4294

[silverlib]

2. It just depends

on who is doing it. If it's the US, it's abuse. If it's another country, it's torture.

on edit - if it's only in writing, it is not meritable. If there are pictures, it is "abhorrent."

[riverwalker]

3. easy way to find out

lets lock up Rummy in a cell in Abu Ghraib with....oh about 10 detainees, give them rubber gloves and a broomstick....let them "discuss" it. Then we come back in a couple of hours and we will ask him what the difference is.
Bet he would have an answer then.

[laura888]

4. what happened at Abu Gharib, according to the Taguba report:

a. Breaking chemical lights and pouring the phosphoric liquid on detainees;
b. Threatening detainees with a charged 9mm pistol;
c. Pouring cold water on naked detainees;
d. Beating detainees with a broom handle and a chair;
e. Threatening male detainees with rape;
f. Allowing a military police guard to stitch the wound of a detainee who was injured after being slammed against the wall in his cell;
g. Sodomizing a detainee with a chemical light and perhaps a broom stick.
h. Using military working dogs to frighten and intimidate detainees with threats of attack, and in one instance actually biting a detainee.

[democracyindanger]

5. Your level of denial nt

[JohnOneillsMemory]

12. Excellent definition! LOL...and then sighing... n/t

[thebaghwan]

6. It is an interesting question, Abuse could be non-physical while torture

is generally physical. It could depend on the degree. Like playing loud music for 24 hours so a person can't sleep might be abusive but do it for 3-4 days and I believe that would be torture.

[Generator]

7. Politics?

No, it's their "way" with the language to make something awful sound better. They are the kings of Orwellian comedy.

I abused you to make you tell me your name

I tortured you to tell me your name


Same thing, torture just sound so, err messy doesn't it?

It's often refered to sex abuse not rape, if that's a clue.

IT's rape.

[rpannier]

8. Both technically and legally

If it is systematic, it's torture. If it is not systematic or if it is an isolated event, not repeated it's abuse.

[JPJones]

10. Post 4 would indicate that it IS systematic

the chemical light being used for multiple puposes. Sounds like a system to me.

[rpannier]

14. They just wanted the difference

They asked for the diference between abuse and torture. I never said what went on in Abu Gharib was either.

[Cleita]

9. None, in my vocabulary, but I went to my thesaurus and

these words mean the same as torture:

torment, pain, hurt, put through hell, crucify, persecute, punish, abuse , distress, agonize, mistreat, afflict, excruciate, rack, work over, make one cry uncle.

[alcuno]

13. Women are not going to go for this word parsing.

No difference.

[wellstone_democrat]

15. depends on how implicated you are doesn't it?

'abuse' is easier to explain, even potentiall "accidental" when things in the normal course go "too far"

"torture?" nothing "accidental" about that is there? You are deliberate and systematic.

You bet your ass every admin freak, freeper and enabler is crying "abuse"---its a rationalization