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.
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.
Don’t kidnappers usually try to return the kidnapped in exchange for something? I think disappearing is an apt description.