Well, there is some dispute whether he was "shown the instruments". A historian named Gingerich apparently argues that the showing never took place. But, in any case, threat of torture is not torture - or at least it is not what comes to mind when the myth of torture is repeated. The myth is a falsehood, which, if repeated by someone who knows better, is usually referred to as a "lie".
But, in any case, threat of torture is not torture - or at least it is not what comes to mind when the myth of torture is repeated.
Sounds like mock executions - they're not actually being executed...
A monthly thread for posting rationality-related quotes you've seen recently (or had stored in your quotesfile for ages).