Thursday, May 14, 2009

Torture

Is it ever appropriate to use harsh interrogation techniques in an attempt to gain information from a prisoner? In other words, is it okay to torture if the stakes are high enough? What about the information gathered, can it be considered reliable? We all see Jack Bauer on 24 doing whatever it takes to get the information, including the use of torture. Does this mean that it is okay since Bauer does it? Do shows like 24 glorify torture for the sake of the greater good and in the process do harm to the public perception of these acts? What do you think? Is it okay to torture? sometimes? never? if it's important enough? is the information reliable? are forced confessions really useful?

Think on it and let me know your thoughts.
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22 comments:

  1. Alex WoosterMay 14, 2009 at 11:48 AM

    They used to do this stuff in the middle ages!

    i don't think its right but people have to tell the truth.

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  2. BobMay 14, 2009 at 9:01 PM

    do you really get the truth when you use force, or just what you want to hear? The middle ages was quite some time ago and I like to think we have progressed. What was okay then, is not now. We always must consider actions based upon the values and accepted behaviors of the time. As such, with our values and accepted behaviors, it is hard to justify. possible, yet difficult...

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  3. alex woosterMay 15, 2009 at 8:35 AM

    Its not right to torture people. Thats it. Nothing more nothing less. Yet people do it anyway just for somthing that they need to hear or somthing like that.

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  4. Giovanni T.May 15, 2009 at 3:41 PM

    Well the problem with torture is: If your getting tortured for days and you don't know what the people want to know, after a wile you will just tell them what they want to here, if its true or not, just to get out of getting tortured more.

    So torturing people doesn't really even work because there's now way of telling if there telling the truth.

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  5. Giovanni T.May 15, 2009 at 3:42 PM

    Sorry typo:
    So torturing people doesn't really even work because there's NO way of telling if there telling the truth.

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  6. Alex woosterMay 17, 2009 at 8:16 AM

    i agree with Gio. its not right to tourcher someone to get the truth.

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  7. Dylan IMay 18, 2009 at 11:50 AM

    moo

    ReplyDelete
  8. GraceMay 18, 2009 at 5:13 PM

    As is obvious, I am not sure which show you are talking about. I do have ideas on torture without the influence of television. And yes, television is probably influencing people in the wrong direction, as always. Torture isn't right. Yes, people get in trouble and information is needed, but torture shouldn't be the way. If the information needed is very crucial and important, than a different approach should be taken. The investigators should take as many steps as possible without the information needed by the person at mention. Then, the facts should be reevaluated,to see if torture is needed. The information may not be reliable, though, which is the risk. It's a hard thing to think about; torture is wrong, but it is true: what if the information is very valuable? There is the risk that the information will be misleading. Government officials should look at this issue, and view any laws or such that are guarding a prisoners rights. These are some basic ideas...

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  9. Alex WMay 18, 2009 at 5:47 PM

    What?
    There is no TV show!

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  10. HarveyMay 20, 2009 at 11:04 AM

    Totally just owned at your basketball game

    ReplyDelete
  11. Alex WoosterMay 20, 2009 at 11:43 AM

    .............what does that have to do with Tortiure?...........

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  12. AldenMay 20, 2009 at 7:48 PM

    I think the idea of torturing sombody if the stakes are high enough could be alright. But torture itself is very immoral. ( shootout scenes are much better)
    PS. Happy Birthday Mr. Metz

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  13. HarveyMay 22, 2009 at 11:25 AM

    It has everything to do with torture

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  14. Alex WoosterMay 25, 2009 at 3:01 PM

    No it doesn't.

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  15. GioMay 25, 2009 at 8:29 PM

    Why did Dylan say "moo"?

    ReplyDelete
  16. GreerMay 26, 2009 at 7:41 PM

    hey I think that if you were desprite in a situatuion that you need the info to survive. But I would not like torture them to death. I would hold a randsom for money and info about the senario.

    I normally say that you should never torchure and stuff because you should treat others the way you want to be treated. So if you were being held captive would you like to be torchurd?? I wouldn't especially if I had a family to take care of.

    But thats my opinion.

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  17. BrendenJune 14, 2009 at 8:23 PM

    I myself being a first hand torture victum from my older brother think that torture is a very good method of getting information and i think that it will always be used. The thing about torture is that it breaks one down, it makes them weak. The threating of ones family of life or most anything of great importance can be used as a tool of torture.

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  18. GioJune 20, 2009 at 11:40 PM

    IM STILL HERE!!!!

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  19. Alex WJune 21, 2009 at 12:10 PM

    Hello People!

    Hows your vacation going?

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousSeptember 10, 2009 at 8:27 PM

    theres something called a lie detector. Torture isn't right. Period.

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  21. izzy jorgensenOctober 19, 2009 at 11:15 AM

    reading thru this i thought the same thing, anonymous. if this question was formed with waterboarding in mind, waterboarding simulates drowning. it is classified as torture, but it doesn't hurt anyone. hook the person up to a lie detector and then do something that involves low-key torture.

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  22. Alex woosterOctober 22, 2009 at 4:16 PM

    Sadist love to torcher people. Its a strange thing. And Hi people in Mr. Metz class! :D

    From,
    Alex Wooster ((old student of Mr. Metz))

    ReplyDelete

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