Radical fundamentalist

[aesmael]

Often I see descriptions like 'radical' or 'fundamentalist' or 'extreme' applied to people and their positions in an apparent effort to dismiss them. It seems to work; I think we can see that in how people frequently try to distance themselves from any such accusation.

I do not think those should be considered traits worthy of automatic dismissal rather than evaluation on the basis of their content. Well of course, we might say so if we think so. What stands out to me right now about these terms is that they are used to mark a stance as being far outside the mainstream. It seems to me like a lot of the opprobrium arising from association with these words is related to that distance from status quo, to say that having very significant disagreement with how things are is a failing in itself.

That's all for now.

Comments

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

The automatic dismissal needs to be applied to the people who attempt to use those labels to automatically dismiss their opponents. People who do that tend to not think anyway.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I'm not altogether sure that it's always a negative thing- I'm proud to label myself a Radical Socialist and it certainly doesn't cost me anything in everyday terms and it keeps the tories and other right wingers off my doorstep!

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Sorry, yes, do realise these terms are not always applied negatively and there are people who claim those words for themselves. Was focusing here on pejorative uses of these terms but probably should have included something mentioning their affirmative use too.

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

I think she was talking about when it's not a self-identification, when it's a label put on somebody to dismiss them rather than something they chose to call themselves. :\ Like the difference between ppl who call themselves or self identify as "radical feminists" and anti-feminist male trolls who call ppl (like me) as "radical feminists" in order to say "she's not worth listening too, she's CRAAZZZY and OUTT THEREEE and has EXTREME BELIEFS" :\

[allieflowlight.livejournal.com]

This.

Darn it Ami, you always say what I'm going to say more quickly and better than I would XD

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

I hate those terms being used to dismiss ppl too, esp when it's a "I'm a REAL member of the group you're a fundamentalist/radical" etc.. esp when these terms aren't being used in self-definition. It's one thing when feminists self-define as "radical feminists", another when anti-feminist men dismiss any woman they disagree with as "a radical feminist" to say "oh she's crazy, not like GOOD feminists which would agree with me!" and stuff :(

It's using language and labelling others to dismiss them and their opinions out of hand without ever addressing a point they made, and I dislike that :\

[taraxoxo.livejournal.com]

These words are sometimes useful, even if not used as an attack. I use the word 'fundamentalist' for religious literalist all the time - what other word can I use?

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

It IS problematic. I am, for example, a Quaker and while our beliefs could be called 'fundamentalist' in the purest sense of the term, we have a reputation as one of the most liberal, open Christian sects going.

Ami is right about the use of terms like 'radical feminist' too, but then you meet a Raymondite radfem like Julie Bindel and you begin to understand how the abuse of semantics gets going!