I feel that it’s downplaying the seriousness of what is happening to these people a bit.
To me the statement “US Government Disappears Student” is not as worrying as “US Government Abducts Student”
Well, the reason I don’t view it as a euphemism is because it’s typically associated with totalitarian regimes. The government “disappears” people. See here,
to cause (someone or something) to disappear:
a: to abduct and kill or imprison (someone, such as a political dissident) while withholding information about the person’s fate
Her son was disappeared during Argentina’s so-called ‘Dirty War.’—
Associated Press
“Disappearing” someone carries more weight than “abducting” someone.
disappearingKIDNAPPING.It’s kidnapping. Or abduction.
Don’t kidnappers usually try to return the kidnapped in exchange for something? I think disappearing is an apt description.
I’ve never viewed “disappearing” as a euphemism.
Horses for courses, I suppose.
I feel that it’s downplaying the seriousness of what is happening to these people a bit.
To me the statement “US Government Disappears Student” is not as worrying as “US Government Abducts Student”
Well, the reason I don’t view it as a euphemism is because it’s typically associated with totalitarian regimes. The government “disappears” people. See here,
“Disappearing” someone carries more weight than “abducting” someone.