Talk:Third degree (interrogation)

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Origin

On the question of the origin of the term "third degree", it is believed to come from the third of five degrees of intensity on the torture device called the Strappado.

It looks like it dates at least as far back as 1909. The book The quest for the rose of Sharon (1906/1909) uses the phrase "gave him the third degree" as a phrase meaning police interrogation. Kaldari (talk) 03:00, 22 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The term was in use at least as early as 1895, because the Lexow Committee was using it, as in this example. 50.77.137.41 (talk) 23:03, 3 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]

It's used in the Hays Code (1930) as well. TimmyMcG (talk) 20:59, 31 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Undue focus on the United States

This article solely cites the United States for examples of the third degree, which I find to be rather offensive. why aren't Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Russia or Mao's China mentioned? The third degree was commonplace in many countries throughout the 20th century and, from what I know, still is in several areas.He who Geezes (talk) 23:34, 4 May 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I'm guessing the phrase "third degree" is largely used only in the US. Certainly many countries have used hares interrelation techniques, but I think the focus of the article here is on the phrase. Wschart (talk) 18:14, 2 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I supposes you're probably right. I'm removing the hatnote. He who Geezes (talk) 01:37, 25 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Nope, this is wikipedia. Anti-America/West propaganda is the norm here.

Far from it. The phrase is quite common in Anglophone countries over the globe. I am from India and there are literal translations in most Indian languages for Third degree that have acquired the status of idioms in their own right. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.204.107.163 (talk) 18:25, 26 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]