Google me: Subtle or violent, the rites are degrading

By ALEXIS GRANT

Accounts of abuse at the Army's Waiouru cadet school have raised questions about whether the mental and physical harassment that allegedly occurred there might have been hazing or bastardisation.

Of the latter term, a former officer at the cadet school said: "I suppose you'd call it bullying."

Google "hazing" and you'll find websites dedicated to educating the public about such abuse and eliminating it.

At Group Hazing, hazing is defined as harassment, abuse or initiation by way of humiliation, either physical or mental. The site at Stop Hazing says it happens within college dormitories and sororities or fraternities, sport clubs, high schools and the military.

It says hazing is any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing is a complex social problem that is shaped by power dynamics operating in a group and/or organisation and within a particular cultural context."

Hazing can be subtle (scavenger hunts for meaningless objects) through to violence.

The abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib led to a piece in Salon about "how torture and initiation rites are used to transform civilians into soldiers - and how Abu Ghraib is just a drop in the bucket".

HankNuwer tracks hazing deaths and incidents: the most recent noted is the death of a 19-year-old student on October 5.

But not everyone takes hazing seriously. Squirrel is an extensive site called "Squirrel Hazing: the Untold Story". Its authors suggest squirrels engage in self-destructive behaviour - such as teasing cats and dogs - because they're being hazed by fellow squirrels.

"Bastardisation" is also not always used in relation to people.

There's the bastardisation of American news at The Periscope, where a blogger argues that American broadcasters cover only news that will attract viewers.

The Free Dictionary defines bastardisation as an act that debases, corrupts or changes to a less respected state.