Is tasering torture?

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

When I think about this question... it centers the debate exactly where I like it to be centered.

Nobody has ever died from waterboarding. It leaves no physical scars and it's not physically painful.

People die from tasering. two days ago it happened again. It's extremely painful and often leaves physical evidence if not scarring.

How is it that we are having a debate about torture and yet tasers are in such common use that we see it done on the news almost daily?

I think the difference is that a taser should be used on an attacker when there is an immediate threat of harm to someone who is not being violent, as an alternative to deadly force or harm from the attacker. My perception is that torturing is done to someone who is already under control, and not really a threat to anyone, because they are restrained, or whatnot. The problem is that tasers are being misused as a substitute for negotiation, restraint, etc. When a tasers is used on a restrained person, just to get obedience, or as punishment, then it is torture.