#76267 - 07/17/02 01:04 PM
noun for socially destructive person
|
stranger
Registered: 07/17/02
Posts: 1
Loc: Tucson, AZ
|
> Can you help me with a word? This a noun for someone who
> innocently joins a group, comes to a party, sits at a
> meeting--whatever--and within minutes has everyone at each other's
> throats. It may be based on a mythical beast or malevolent force.
> The effect is pernicious, malefic, and usually completely innocent on
> the part of the individual who usually sees him- or herself as only
> trying to be 'helpful' and frequently comes out of the situation
> feeling hurt or unappreciated.
>
>
>
>
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#76268 - 07/17/02 01:40 PM
Re: noun for socially destructive person
|
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
|
Dear yomintz: For a coinage, how about a combination of "caca-" and "catalyst"
Cacacatalyst. or cacocatalyst
Edit replaced v with y
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#76269 - 07/17/02 02:29 PM
Re: noun for socially destructive person
|
old hand
Registered: 12/20/00
Posts: 1055
Loc: Berlin
|
That's yomintz to you, Bill. 
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#76270 - 07/17/02 02:50 PM
Re: noun for socially destructive person
|
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
|
Dear belligerentyouth: I have macular degeneration, and even with extra magnification,
I was barely able to see the "tail" on the "y" because underline obscured it.
My apologies to yomintz
Edit: changed "fishonabike" to "belligerent youth"
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#76271 - 07/17/02 03:06 PM
Re: noun for socially destructive person
|
old hand
Registered: 12/20/00
Posts: 1055
Loc: Berlin
|
To stir up trouble is to cause general discontentment, and some of our Kiwis might lovingly call a person who does this a shit-stirrer. Otherwise you have your mischief-maker, trouble-maker, or incendiary (normally meaning an arsonist). These all mean someone who agitates (or inflames:-) factions and/or promotes quarrels. That's pretty close. That is to say, an 'incendiary' doesn't necessaryily willfully promote unrest, as far as I know.
Many comparisons to animals are popular for the kind of people you're talking about - a snake in the grass, or a viper, serpent; these are pretty general, but nonetheless have an exact meaning when used in context.
I'm sure there is some term from Greek or Roman mythology if that's what you're looking for, I just don't know it. Only a harpy, Furies, or a Siren come to mind, none of which fit too well. That's the best I can do.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#76272 - 07/17/02 03:24 PM
Re: noun for socially destructive person
|
old hand
Registered: 02/18/02
Posts: 833
Loc: Eastern Ontario, Canada
|
Hey by, I think yomintz is looking for a noun that incorporates what you've suggested, but without the malice aforethought - someone who has this ill effect unintentionally, perhaps. "Well-meaning snake-in-the-grass" doesn't have quite the right ring to it....Isn't yomintz looking for a noun to describe someone who brings strife but doesn't realize it, and is then surprised and hurt by the reaction he causes? Bill's attempt with "catalyst" is good, but I think there must be a word or phrase that's in more common use....Perhaps something incorporating the word "innocent"?
PS to Bill: I DON'T have macular degeneration and I also thought, at first, that the handle was "vomintz"!
Let us go in peace to love and serve the board.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#76273 - 07/17/02 03:40 PM
Re: noun for socially destructive person
|
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 6296
Loc: Piedmont Region of Virginia, U...
|
This isn't what yomintz is looking for, but it is a word that came to mind:
party-pooper
Ball regards,
WordWaltzer Hey, a ball is as close as I could get to a party with the requisite letter "b" and it worked well with the "w" for waltz. So be a party-pooper and shoot me!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#76275 - 07/17/02 04:48 PM
Re: noun for socially destructive person
|
veteran
Registered: 10/11/00
Posts: 1346
Loc: Sussex, England
|
Dear fishonabikeOops, weren't me, Bill! Don't know if I should be honoured or dismayed at being seen as a belligerentyouth. Honoured, I think, looking at the "youth" part. I'm almost positive yomintz is correct in thinking there is a specific term for someone who gets everybody at everybody else's throats without meaning to do so. I also think it is a mythical term... or maybe biblical. Ah! Is it a Jonah? That's more someone who brings bad luck to all around them, but it's certainly in the right direction. Fisk
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#76276 - 07/17/02 05:09 PM
Re: noun for socially destructive person
|
old hand
Registered: 12/20/00
Posts: 1055
Loc: Berlin
|
> Jonah
I almost wrote of poor Jonah too, who when refusing to become a prophet was washed off his boat and out to sea, only to be swallowed by a whale, and finally later vomited (sic - literally) out to safety. I couldn't see that being what our friend was looking for though, so I scratched that idea. As you said though Fisk - the right direction:-)
Perhaps there is a medical name (beides side-effect) for unintentional negative effects caused by a drug that would be useful....
[clutching at straws]
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
8453 Members
16 Forums
13692 Topics
210105 Posts
Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM
|
|
|
0 registered (),
51
Guests and
1
Spider online. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search
Previous Topic
Index