# If committing "war crimes" = "war criminal," then" crimes against humanity" =...? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481 "2004-01-28T23:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/1 "2004-01-28T23:50:27Z")
This is not meant to be a question or a debate about international law…it’s something far worse…an English question. :eek: That is, as the title says; If someone who commits War Crimes is a War Criminal, what do you call someone who commits Crimes Against Humanity, not necessarily in the course of a war? Obviously, “Human Criminal” doesn’t work at all. Is there anything else? ---
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/2 "2004-01-28T23:51:59Z")
Supervillain? ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/3 "2004-01-29T00:51:39Z")
“Tyrant” seems to work. 1. An absolute ruler who governs without restrictions. 2. A ruler who exercises power in a harsh, cruel manner. 3. An oppressive, harsh, arbitrary person. I think it would be difficult to accuse someone of only committing crimes against humanity. Things like that seem to be part of a bigger picture. Yes, tyrant seems to work. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/4 "2004-01-29T11:35:58Z")
I’m not sure about “tyrant”…it seems to imply that the accused is the _leader_ of a country, which isn’t necessarily the case. Like if it was an undersecretary or a cabinet minister or something who’s responsible for the crimes against humanity. If they’re _working_ for a tyrant, they’re not technically a tyrant themselves. I mean, I can imagine the _New York Times_ saying “The trial for accused war criminal Joe Blowski begins tomorrow…”, but not “the trial for accused tyrant Joe Blowski…” It’s not precise enough. ---
**Author:** ![MinniePurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@MinniePurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MinniePurl)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/5 "2004-01-29T11:46:06Z")
Reality TV Producer? ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/6 "2004-01-29T11:47:57Z")
I was never an English major, but it seems to me that if it’s precision you’re looking for, “crimes against humanity” is too vague. Genocidist? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/7 "2004-01-29T11:51:41Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > I was never an English major, but it seems to me that if it’s precision you’re looking for, “crimes against humanity” is too vague. > > Genocidist? That term is perhaps too specific. For example, look at this: > [@](#): > > [THE INDICTMENT OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC](http://www.asil.org/insights/insigh35.htm) > > The indictment, which was confirmed by a trial chamber judge on May 24 and transmitted to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on May 27, charges Slobodan Milosevic (President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), Milan Milutinovic (President of Serbia), Dragoljub Ojdanic (Chief of Staff of the Yugoslav army), Nikola Sainovic (Deputy Prime Minister), and Vlajko Stojiljkovic (Minister of Internal Affairs) with responsibility for deporting 740,000 Kosovo Albanians and for the murder of 340 others. The indictment is broken down into four counts: Count 1: Deportation (a crime against humanity), Count 2: Murder (a crime against humanity), Count 3: Murder (a violation of the customs of war), and Count 4: Persecution (a crime against humanity). ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/8 "2004-01-29T13:33:32Z")
**Demostylus** , in the example you give there, I would say that “a crime against humanity” is a description or qualifier rather than a specific crime. Same sort of usage as “a fedral crime” for example. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/9 "2004-01-29T13:41:04Z")
> [@Iteki](#): > > **Demostylus** , in the example you give there, I would say that “a crime against humanity” is a description or qualifier rather than a specific crime. Same sort of usage as “a fedral crime” for example. Yes, I agree. I meant that “genocidist” was too specific. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/10 "2004-01-30T04:16:04Z")
**criminal against humanity.** ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-committing-war-crimes-war-criminal-then-crimes-against-humanity/226481/11 "2004-01-30T04:22:29Z")
[indent][indent][indent] **DIRTY BASTARD** 😕[/indent][/indent][/indent]