Torture or not torture?

[Stinky The Clown]

This is what they used to use on town scolds a while ago. It is called a Scold's Bridle.



The picture demonstrates that not all scolds are women (a commonly held myth).

Here is an earlier version of this.



Here is a whole collection of them.



Would using these be torture?

Or simply a way to quiet down the Piyush Chorus?

[winter999]

1. Could you make the argument

that anything that makes a person uncomfortable and are forced to endure could be defined as "torture". In that light, you'd have to say Yes.

[Dradcliff]

2. Not exactly...

Sitting in an interrogation room would be rather uncomfortable but its not considered torture. Torture would be putting you through severe stress or pain.

[LiberalPersona]

3. Torture

They cause severe pain to the wearer's tongue if it is moved too much, I think that qualifies them as torture.

[TahitiNut]

4. Looks like a (clumsy) attempt to STOP torture to me.

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