This is really messed up, and I sympathize with her situation, but this is not torture. Words matter. I’d call this harassment, fraud, or malicious company behavior, but not torture. Doesn’t mean it’s right, and the company/seller should absolutely be held responsible.
It’s hyperbole. You’ve never been very hungry and said “I’m starving” or been out in very hot weather for a while and said “I’m dying out here”? I’m pretty sure the average reader is able to figure out from context she has not actually been abducted to a black site and waterboarded.
This is really messed up, and I sympathize with her situation, but this is not torture. Words matter. I’d call this harassment, fraud, or malicious company behavior, but not torture. Doesn’t mean it’s right, and the company/seller should absolutely be held responsible.
It’s hyperbole. You’ve never been very hungry and said “I’m starving” or been out in very hot weather for a while and said “I’m dying out here”? I’m pretty sure the average reader is able to figure out from context she has not actually been abducted to a black site and waterboarded.