NationStates Jolt Archive

If tickling was used in interrogation, would it be considered torture?

Is tickling torture?

edit: Sorry, typo in the poll. Should read "Is it torture to tickle?"

If tickling was used in interrogation, would it be considered torture?

Is tickling torture?

I think it depends. certainly, if you interrogate someone with no sense of humor by tickling them, you're inflicting grievous psychological harm by making them laugh, so that would be torture. Tickling a clown, on the other hand, probably isn't torture.

Someone get the Attorney General on the phone!

It can be. Believe me. *nod*

If it caused extreme discomfort, pain, or mental anguish, I would call it torture.

Tickling a clown, on the other hand, probably isn't torture.

:eek:

Unless it's done by tickle bees.

Yes. That doesn't stop it still being fun, though.

I think it depends. certainly, if you interrogate someone with no sense of humor by tickling them, you're inflicting grievous psychological harm by making them laugh, so that would be torture. Tickling a clown, on the other hand, probably isn't torture.

Someone get the Attorney General on the phone!

Dehumanization leads to genocide, you clownhater!

Actually it might be. Feeling ticklish is a result of nerve fibers dealing with pain and touch being stimulated in such a way that is starts an involuntary psychological reaction where the mind is apprehensive of actual pain. The sensation isn't supposed to be pleasing at all. It's sort of like simulated pain.

My brother knows more about it, he's studying psychology.

It can be. Believe me. *nod*

prolonged excessive laughter can be painful and damaging to the resperatory system.

prolonged excessive laughter can be painful and damaging to the resperatory system.

Yes prolonged tickling will eventually cause actual pain due to the laughter. I can attest to that.

I think it depends. certainly, if you interrogate someone with no sense of humor by tickling them, you're inflicting grievous psychological harm by making them laugh, so that would be torture. Tickling a clown, on the other hand, probably isn't torture.

Someone get the Attorney General on the phone!

Of course since Clowns fall under neither the legal definition of "Person" or "Animal" , nothing you do to them would be considered torture.

prolonged excessive laughter can be painful and damaging to the resperatory system.

Laughing from tickling isn't because it feels good either, it's a nervous tic most people have, it's a form of anxiety. People laugh from tickling because they are uncomfortable, prolonged tickling will induce a panic attack and can also be painful from over stimulation.

Laughing from tickling isn't because it feels good either, it's a nervous tic most people have, it's a form of anxiety. People laugh from tickling because they are uncomfortable, prolonged tickling will induce a panic attack and can also be painful from over stimulation.

That's pretty much what I was trying to get at. The idea of tickling as torture does seem ridiculous, since it's ingrained in comedy such as cartoons that it's "safe" interrogation. The fact is that it can in fact be incredibly uncomfortable to people in real life. Panic attacks can even lead to actual heart attacks in some cases.

Of course since Clowns fall under neither the legal definition of "Person" or "Animal" , nothing you do to them would be considered torture.

http://www.abestweb.com/smilies/escape.gif

Pouring water on somebody isn't necessarily torture. There are situations in which they might be really happy about it, and even feel pleasure and thank you. But you certainly can torture somebody by pouring water on them.

Putting your penis into a woman's vagina isn't necessarily torture. There are situations in which a women might be delighted with you for doing so. But you certainly can inflict torture on a woman that way.

Or, from the opposite direction, there are many activities that we might reflexively associate with torture, but which some people choose to engage in for pleasure. (See BDSM culture.)

The key element is consent of the individual in question.

If somebody consents to be tied up, whipped, and fucked, it can be a lovely kinky night of fun.

The same activities, carried out on a non-consenting person, are torture.

Laughing from tickling isn't because it feels good either, it's a nervous tic most people have, it's a form of anxiety. People laugh from tickling because they are uncomfortable, prolonged tickling will induce a panic attack and can also be painful from over stimulation.

yep... Prolonged, excessive laughter, from the feel good type to that induced by gas and tickling will adversely affect the resperatory system, possibly ending in the collapse of the breathing pathways as well as cutting off oxygen to vital organs. so any form of laughter, when excessive and prolonged, will cause a panic attack.

to actually die laughting is a very painful and slow way to die.

Tickling isn't really torture. And I doubt it's effectiveness. My mom thinks it's abusive though...

I voted for contradictory poll answers. :)

For some tickling could be torture. However, I am not ticklish so have a distinct advantage.