Torturers?

David Stockhoff · 05 Aug 2010, 00:08 · from 2010-August.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:08:47 -0400
Subject: (urth) Torturers?
In-Reply-To: <4C59FE50.6010904 at hyraxes.com>
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	<4C50BFDC.6070306 at sky.com>	<17ec46f0a1d8cb7f2f35ac68c85a4008.squirrel at brunians.org>
	<4C59FE50.6010904 at hyraxes.com>
Message-ID: <4C5A010F.3010705 at verizon.net>

For the most part, yes. There are exceptions as noted by Gurloes.

Let's say 20% Truth and 80% Penitence. Initially, the ratio may have 
been different.

Dave Lebling wrote:
> It is specifically stated that torture in the Commonwealth is a 
> punishment, not a means of obtaining truth. The Guild performs exactly 
> the tortures ordered, and the torturers are taught to completely 
> ignore anything their victims say. Severian is chided for listening to 
> a victim at one point during his apprenticeship.
>
> Torturers in our time may ostensibly be in search of truth, but the 
> Guild is inflicting judicial punishment.
>
> -- Dave Lebling, aka vizcacha
>
> brunians at brunians.org wrote:
>> A torturer insists upon being told the truth, and has various means to
>> ensure that he is being told the truth.
>>
>> These seem to me to be useful qualifications for a successful monarch.
>>   
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