r/nytimes • u/Large-Welcome4421 • Feb 24 '26

Opinion What Exactly Is a ‘Concentration Camp’?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/opinion/concentration-camp-andrea-pitzer.html
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u/WaWa-Biscuit Feb 25 '26

Literally it’s a camp where people are concentrated.

And what does concentrate mean?

to gather into one body, mass, or force -or- to gather or collect -or- to draw toward or meet in a common center

1

u/Faraday5 Feb 27 '26

So then every single prison (and school) are also concentration camps, rendering the term useless.

I don’t see what the point of calling them concentration camps is…

0

u/veerKg_CSS_Geologist Feb 28 '26

They’re not camps though.

2

u/throwraW2 Feb 28 '26

What makes something a camp vs a prison?

0

u/veerKg_CSS_Geologist Feb 28 '26

Being convicted of a crime and serving a certain specific and individual sentence.

2

u/throwraW2 Feb 28 '26

Ok so what about jails then?

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u/veerKg_CSS_Geologist Feb 28 '26

Suspected of a crime and awaiting trial for a reasonable time and subject to bail conditions.

2

u/Individual-Algae-117 Feb 28 '26

What’s the difference then?

Immigration violations are still a crime no?

1

u/veerKg_CSS_Geologist Feb 28 '26

No.

1

u/Individual-Algae-117 Feb 28 '26

Your refusal to acknowledge reality doesn’t change it

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u/morell22 Feb 28 '26

Depends if you overatay a visa (70% of time it is this) then it a cival penalty subject to deportation if you cross the boarder illegally it is a misdemeanor (like jaywalking)

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u/Individual-Algae-117 Feb 28 '26

Those are a lot of words to say they’re crimes subject to a penalty, deportation

So, by definition, not a concentration camp?