Anyone who takes one side of an issue, and is completely and utterly closed-minded to any opposition would be considered an extremist on that issue. Whether or not that is a bad thing i guess would depend on the issue. We are afraid to call ourselves extremists, because there is a stigma attached to that word.
Its OK. Extremists tend to be unwilling to hear the opposing view, which I feel is not "OK" to do.
But to have a passionate opinion about an issue to the point where you feel the issue is settled in
your mind is totally acceptable. Can you still be wrong about that issue? Yes.
I think the problem most people have with "extremists" is that they are unwilling to hear opposing
views. And that's not extremism, that's being stubborn. Two different things in my mind.
When you think about it, extremists are the only people who are sure of their opinions. Anyone else
is just compromising and finding a middle ground so they can be more normal.
That's not the only definition of extremist. Mine is simple: One who is extreme on an issue. It
depends on which side of which issue one is extreme on, whether it's OK to be so or not.
There are a number of things in this world that people try to control, free will being one of them.
If you say that it is bad to believe in something strongly then you are believing that you have the
power to control the people you are talking about, therefore being hypocritical.
I don't think it is OK. There are some areas that I tend be a bit of an extremist and I always
regret it when I fail to keep those tendecies reigned in.
It's okay to have them, but i wouldn't want to be one. If we don't have extremists we wont have
moderates. We need to see the extremes to show us the folly of the ultimate conclusion of their
side. Extremists tend to block out honesty unless it fits their convenience. Extremists are also a
little difficult to be around at times.
It is OK to be an extremist until you are proved wrong. Which will usually happen because extremist
tend to be hot headed people relying more on emotion then on fact. Once you prove an extremist wrong
they will probably attack you personally, usually relying on personal insults. Because of this, it
is in my opinion a bad idea to be an extremist, but OK to feel very strongly about what you believe
in.
13 May 2008 01:18
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