"Folter"?

 I had to go and review my German translation meanings today....when the word 'folter' popped up.

Typically in Germany, it means one of two things: (1) breaking the will of some individual, or (2) humiliating an individual.

You'd then turn to article 104 of the Constitution, where it says in plain words....you can't torture anyone while they are in custody or detention (mentality or physically).  

How this got brought up?  

Well....the climate-kids.....'Last Generation' activists....staged road  blocking with individuals who glue themselves to the pavements.  Cops come with the job of 'unsticking' them....which typically means a short-and-quick job, and maybe the glue isn't quiet dissolved....thus causing pain (torture) to the activists.

I always try to see the opposing view of things, but with the glued-hands-on-pavement business, it's hard to feel any sympathy for the activists.

Suggesting that the cops are in the torture business?  This doesn't sell well as a 'brand' to the journalists or general public.  

Some solvents are better than others, and if you had a choice, you might want to consider options.

For the record, you can use cheap vegetable or canola oil, but you need an hour for it to readily dissolve.  

Same deal for using mayonnaise.  

If you had some funds....vodka works well (I'd hate to waste it for an action like this).....or plain old rubbing alcohol.

Uhu makes a glue remover....just spray and 'yank'....around 9 Euro a can (spray).  You'd still have to wait ten minutes for the effect to really start up.

You can even use vinegar....although it's a good 30 to 60 minutes to have it all dissolved.

The patience of the police?  If you and five other cops got called to a scene with six activists glued down, and 200 cars already lined up.....you probably won't have much patience.  Picking the safe natural method won't be your priority, and you resort to rubbing alcohol and then yanking on your hand in five minutes flat.  

The question is....is this 'folter' (torture)?

Some German engineer ought to be developing a 60-second ultra-strong anti-glue formula, and just call it 'cop-action'....making a one-time application around 90-Euro, and have the cop ticket the activist on the spot for the man-hour of help and the 90-Euro for the 'cream'.