Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Miscellany A Gandhi question
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Fanatics can cause a very great deal of harm, can't they? What is it that makes people become fanatics, anyway?
M-W:
Main Entry: fa·nat·ic
Pronunciation: f&-'na-tik
Variant(s): or fa·nat·i·cal /-ti-k&l/
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin fanaticus inspired by a deity, frenzied, from fanum temple -- more at FEAST
Date: 1550
: marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion <they're fanatic about politics>
I suppose we're talking being possessed here, aren't we? The danger is the "uncritical devotion" part, which makes everything black-and-white, with no shades of grey and no compromise.
It has the huge benefit of simplicity and [thanks eta] freedom from doubt. Quite easily achieved, too - you just short out your faculties of reason, your concerns and troubles, and let your unequivocal passions guide you; although I suspect they only appear unequivocal because they get hitched to a ready-made creed.
It's terribly easy to mistake relief from discomfort and uncertainty as a sign you're going in the right direction.
As such fanaticism is appealing and highly infectious, even to its enemies.
Hey ho, I'm a jolly fella [musical notes]
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted A Gandhi question Jackie 07/28/02 12:44 AM Re: A Gandhi question wwh 07/28/02 12:48 AM Re: A Gandhi question of troy 07/28/02 11:50 AM Re: A Gandhi question Jackie 07/29/02 11:50 AM Re: A Gandhi question Wordwind 07/29/02 12:02 PM Re: A Gandhi question FishonaBike 07/31/02 10:43 AM Re: A Gandhi question Jackie 08/01/02 02:20 PM Re: A Gandhi question Buffalo Shrdlu 08/01/02 02:27 PM Fanatics FishonaBike 08/01/02 04:13 PM Re: A Gandhi question jimthedog 07/29/02 10:55 PM
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,913Posts229,331Members9,182 Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now 0 members (), 854 guests, and 1 robot. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 15ddrinnan 1
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,542tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,916Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org