People - quit referring to it as "water boarding" or "simulated drowning"....

[HardWorkingDem]

These acts ARE drowning. And sadly, for too many in America, "water boarding" conjures up a mental picture of the old game where some kid drips water on the forehead of another kid to slowly drive him crazy.

[eShirl]

1. "the old game where some kid drips water on the forehead of another kid "

I've never heard of such a kid's game
O-o

[HardWorkingDem]

2. For lack of better name...

I realize it is offensive now as an adult, but this playground taunt used to be called "Chinese water torture"....

[LostinVA]

3. I call it "forced drowning"

[HardWorkingDem]

5. That is even a better phrase...

Can't recall what essayist picked up on this, but he was bothered by the use of terminology and the mental picture it created - a sterile, harmless and only irritating act, instead of the mentally and physiological feelings of drowning.

[jenmito]

4. Chinese water torture, which you're describing, is not an old game played by kids.

At least I'VE never used it while playing as a child and never heard of other kids "playing" that. But waterboarding is torture, too. It is drowning and I use the word "waterboarding" to clarify the specific type of torture I'm talking about. :shrug:

[HardWorkingDem]

6. Hm...

and you've never heard of boys dropping a ball of spit down on others while holding each other down while wrestling?

My point was, the phrase "water boarding" creates a mental picture of harmless irritation, rather than what it really is....hence, my description of the things many young boys do while growing up.

[TimesSquareCowboy]

7. Watch 'The Battle of Algiers'

The French used it there, and they show it being used in the movie. I recall reading somewhere that a lot of counter-insurgency tactics were first developed in Algiers.

[meow2u3]

8. It's not "waterboarding"--it's water TORTURE

Period. End of discussion!