Comments on: What is it with men and torture?

By: David McMillan

David McMillan — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:47:51 +0000

Not to be too cynical, but I’m doubting the author is married. You want to talk about torture try living with the same woman for many years.

By: Roy Fischer

Roy Fischer — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:19:47 +0000

Besides the fact that truth serum is a myth, torture isn’t about getting information. That can be more effectively done by buddying up to the prisoner, being kind and sympathetic to him/her. Torture is about humiliation, about exerting power, about breaking another human being’s mind, will, and self-respect.

By: Euphrosyne

Euphrosyne — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:52:28 +0000

Because it’s a myth. The one you’ve probably heard referred to in movies – thiopental – is just another barbiturate. It will lower your inhibitions. It won’t make you lose all self-control or prevent you from lying, especially if you lie often and well.

The idea of a truth serum is still very attractive to some:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/19/AR2006111900891.html

And if there were a “Google it and find out the truth for yourself” serum, I’d be all for it.

By: Suz

Suz — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:05:44 +0000

What ever happened to TRUTH SERUM? Why do we never hear about that anymore? No need to torture other than for that “power over another” thing that was made illegal so long ago.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:56:06 +0000

http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=41102

http://www.du.edu/gsis/cord/criic/abstracts/torture.html

Good piece of writing.

By: Euphrosyne

Euphrosyne — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:40:45 +0000

Oh, and I think Anonywhat has a point. The prevalence of men in the history and development of institutionalized torture may well be the result of gender stereotypes, a “glass ceiling” effect of the perception that women are inherently gentler, weaker and more nurturing. Many, many women are capable of inflicting prolonged physical and mental agony for the sole purpose of exercising power over another human being, and not for days or months, for years. Given the required ideological incentive or chance at power, I have a feeling that more women than you imagine would make excellent, pitiless torturers.

You may be right about the gadgetry, though.

By: Euphrosyne

Euphrosyne — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:35:34 +0000

Have you read Darius Rejali’s Torture and Democracy? It’s difficult to read but unique, I think: both a survey of techniques and an examination of “clean” torture, its relationship to the governments it serves and the people who practice it, as well as its actual versus its perceived effectiveness…

As I said, it’s a horrifying read, but an amazing accomplishment.

By: Anonywhat

Anonywhat — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:10:18 +0000

Wait, what? Torture is now only the arena of the male? Even with photographic evidence to the contrary? This is ridiculous. Torture is the arena of the socially dysfunctional, psychopathic and broken moral codes, not gender. You present no evidence to your claims and instead ramble on about male stereotypes.

And, for the record. I dont like basements, sports, drinking or guns. And yes, I have a penis.

By: Roy Fischer

Roy Fischer — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:58:46 +0000

Amnesty International points out that torture is not about getting information, but about exerting power over another person. That’s probably why it’s more a guy thing.

By: www.buzzflash.net

www.buzzflash.net — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:44:12 +0000

What is it with men and torture?…

Torture used to be about diabolical devices like the rack and the iron maiden. Today, the US uses simpler techniques — and demonic mind games. But it’s still a guy thing through and through….