Spatial Compression
Take a 50mm and take a picture, now take 200mm lens and shoot the same picture with the same composition (you will have to move back to recompose the shot). When you compare the images you will see compression. For example lets say you shot a head shot and a block down the street there is a telephone pole. When you compare the images you will notice that in the 200mm shot the pole looks a lot closer to your subject. Spatial compression happens with anything above 50mm, you may not notice a big difference with a focal of 55 but it's there.
Spatial Distortion
Take a 50mm and take a picture, now take it with a 17mm lens, make sure to have the same composition (you will have to move closer). When you compare the images you will see distortion. For example lets say you shot a head shot (shoulders and head) when you go to the 17mm and compose the same shot you will get that very common funny face distortion, that you usually see on greeting cards with dogs(HUGE nose and little eyes). Spatial Distortion happens with anything below 50mm focal length.
This is why the 50mm is considered a normal/standard lens. There is no spatial compression/distortion with that length.
See what is confusing to me is the 35mm lens is really 35mm from the sensor to the focal plane of the lens, but because of the crop factor it gives me a field of view of about 50mm on a 35mm camera. I know that the crop factor effects the field of view, but does it also effect spatial distortion/compression, because a 50mm lens on any camera is always 50mm from the focal point to the film plane/sensor.
I suppose I could answer my own question if I could find time to shoot some pictures, and compare them. If I do find time I will post some examples. I'm just so busy and thought someone may know the answer already.