[quasi]

Agree on the first point, which is why the "for example". Regarding second: standard practices, clear thought, good abstractions, readable documentation are all necessary and have much much more impact on the lack of torture. The OP (and I think you) are saying that indirection can lead to torture and hence avoid using it (the title of the article). Misuse or lack of understanding of any technique, principle et.al will lead us and others to confusion and torture. IMHO there is nothing inherently wrong with using indirection, say, as long as we understand what we are doing (as with a lot of other things). And because, as you so rightly said, impressionable people are reading along with us, we don't want to leave the impression that 'indirection', say, is somehow a villain here.