Blackmail

[nq:1]Does blackmail involve threats to expose the victim, or is it just a synonym for "extortion"? Some animal-rights protestors have ... a farm which breeds guinea-pigs for the purpose of vivisection, and "blackmail" doesn't seem the right concept to me. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffo

In our last episode,
(Email Removed),
the lovely and talented Matti Lamprhey
broadcast on alt.usage.english:
[nq:1]Does blackmail involve threats to expose the victim, or is it just a synonym for "extortion"? Some animal-rights protestors have ... a farm which breeds guinea-pigs for the purpose of vivisection, and "blackmail" doesn't seem the right concept to me.

[nq:2]Does blackmail involve threats to expose the victim, or is ... and "blackmail" doesn't seem the right concept to me. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4285488.stm[/nq]
[nq:1]If the police believe they have enough evidence to prove blackmail that is what they initially

[nq:1]Does blackmail involve threats to expose the victim, or is it just a synonym for "extortion"?[/nq]
It's a form of extortion. Blackmail is "any unwarranted demand with menaces". For blackmail you don't have to threaten to do something illegal (which is the norm for other types of extortion).

John Briggs

[nq:2]If the police believe they have enough evidence to prove blackmail that is what they initially get charged with. [/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks, Dave. Perhaps I should have stressed that I wanted asensible answer, though.[/nq]
I think extortion with menaces is blackmail, whatever the nature of the threat. Perhaps it's not a precise legal expression: I see from OED that it was originally a "prote

[nq:2]If the police believe they have enough evidence to prove ... innocent commuters. Animal rights terrorists and activists kill innocent patients.[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks, Dave. Perhaps I should have stressed that I wanted a sensible answer, though.[/nq]
Just followed up the post as written.

Dave Fawthrop
The London suicide bombers killed innocent commuters. Animal rights terror

[nq:2]Does blackmail involve threats to expose the victim, or is it just a synonym for "extortion"?[/nq]
[nq:1]It's a form of extortion. Blackmail is "any unwarranted demand with menaces". For blackmail you don't have to threaten to do something illegal (which is the norm for other types of extortion).[/nq]
Where did you get that definition of blackmail? It doesn't sound right to me. And w

[nq:2]Does blackmail involve threats to expose the victim, or is it just a synonym for "extortion"?[/nq]
[nq:1]It's a form of extortion. Blackmail is "any unwarranted demand with menaces". For blackmail you don't have to threaten to do something illegal (which is the norm for other types of extortion).[/nq]
To be more precise:
"(1) A person is guilty of blackmail if, with a view to gai

[nq:1]Does blackmail involve threats to expose the victim, or is it just a synonym for "extortion"? Some animal-rights protestors have ... farm which breeds guinea-pigs for the purpose of vivisection, and "blackmail" doesn't seem the right concept to me. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/stafford

[nq:2]It's a form of extortion. Blackmail is "any unwarranted demand ... illegal (which is the norm for other types of extortion).[/nq]
[nq:1]Where did you get that definition of blackmail? It doesn't sound right to me. And wouldn't "menaces" involve "something illegal"? For me, blackmail would typically be "If you don't give me X, I'll tell Y about Z".[/nq]
I agree, but see NSOED:
(no