Is fascism a negative thing?

[Pulau Singapura]

Most of the others, especially left wingers, use the word "fascist" as an insult for whatever reason.
But, let us see from various sources, what is fascism?

fas·cism
/ˈfaSHˌizəm/
noun
an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.
synonyms: authoritarianism, totalitarianism, dictatorship, despotism, autocracy; More
(in general use) extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice.

So, what is negative about that? It is simply extreme authoritarianism, which isn't bad at all. The Leader is just simply providing for the People, and the People and the culture of the People are put first and foremost.

Fascism /ˈfæʃɪzəm/ is a form of radical authoritarian nationalism[1][2] that came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe. Influenced by national syndicalism, fascism originated in Italy during World War I, in opposition to liberalism, Marxism, and anarchism. Fascism is usually placed on the far-right within the traditional left–right spectrum.[3][4]

Fascism is a Political reactionary authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to unify their nation based on commitment to an organic national community where its individuals are united together as one people through national identity. The unity of the nation is to be based upon suprapersonal connections of ancestry and culture through a totalitarian state that seeks the mass mobilization of the national community through discipline, [narrowing of the permitted limit of social discourse], physical training, and eugenics. The limiting of the spectrum of acceptable opinion includes the aggressive suppression of dissent. Frequently, fascism seeks to eradicate perceived foreign influences that are deemed to be causing degeneration of the nation or of not fitting into the national culture.

[Sino nations]

Amount of wars it causes.

[Kolintha]

Is the concept of authoritarian statism in of itself negative?

Not really. I subscribe to such ideologies myself.

Is authoritarian statism, propped up by nationalist rhetoric aimed against those who are different or perceived to be a 'drag' on society, negative, especially when essentially all of the known examples ended up participating in some form of mass killing of civilians as a result of their ideology?

Yes, it pretty much is.
Now, in a modern context, note the first definition you posted:

(in general use) extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice.


This is what 'left-wingers' as you call them mean when they call people fascists. All factors that tended to make up former fascist regimes.

[Ayreonia]

So, what is bad about it?

Most of the others, especially left wingers, use the word "fascist" as an insult for whatever reason.
But, let us see from various sources, what is fascism?

fas·cism
/ˈfaSHˌizəm/
noun
an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.
synonyms: authoritarianism, totalitarianism, dictatorship, despotism, autocracy; More
(in general use) extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice.

So, what is negative about that? It is simply extreme authoritarianism, which isn't bad at all. The Leader is just simply providing for the People, and the People and the culture of the People are put first and foremost.

Fascism /ˈfæʃɪzəm/ is a form of radical authoritarian nationalism[1][2] that came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe. Influenced by national syndicalism, fascism originated in Italy during World War I, in opposition to liberalism, Marxism, and anarchism. Fascism is usually placed on the far-right within the traditional left–right spectrum.[3][4]

Fascism is a Political reactionary authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to unify their nation based on commitment to an organic national community where its individuals are united together as one people through national identity. The unity of the nation is to be based upon suprapersonal connections of ancestry and culture through a totalitarian state that seeks the mass mobilization of the national community through discipline, [narrowing of the permitted limit of social discourse], physical training, and eugenics. The limiting of the spectrum of acceptable opinion includes the aggressive suppression of dissent. Frequently, fascism seeks to eradicate perceived foreign influences that are deemed to be causing degeneration of the nation or of not fitting into the national culture.

That enough?

[Val Halla]

I'm not sure there are any positives.

[Summers Land]

Fascism isn't actually that bad. What made it it look bad are the leaders that "promoted" this ideology (e.g. Hitler (?), Mussolini) and that the ideology prompts people to be "militarily ready".

[Conserative Morality]

I'm not sure you understand fascism. Fascism is a doctrine of struggle and violence. Singapore style authoritarianism is basically degenerate in the eyes of most fascists.

[United States of Conner]

Facism is a negative thing.

[Sociopia]

Vesting absolute power in a single interest will always result in absolute tyranny, there is no way around this.

[Merutiga]

Fascism, despite its its political and dictionary definition is characterized as a economic and social system,based on the idea race was a simple social structure and non-existant, but at the same time Nationalist, mainly by its creators. Like all ideologies however, multiple forms are created like Nazism, which was extremely racist and nationalist, which founded its current definiton.

So eh, give and take.'

(I just accidentally realised that is basically Merutiga aside from our anti-Human attitude.)

[Exelia]

It's all good till you have to wear a badge.

[Radiatia]

I can think of few systems more deplorable than one in which industry becomes the government, denying the right of freedom of expression or individuality, or even genuine creativity all based upon the value that the "strong" (read: those born with certain benefits) are worth more than the "weak" (read: those born in less fortunate circumstances) and that the latter should always be purged from society for the supposed betterment of society.

Say what you like about the socialists and the communists - I abhor both - but at least they appear capable of some form of empathy.

Fascism is just psychopathy as an ideology.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

When a sentence reads thus:

"It's simply a form of extreme X, which isn't bad at all"

That sentence is most likely wrong.

[Ghondra]

Fascism means investing absolute authority to a single group of individuals. Absolute Power corrupts absolutely. As a Liberal, I perceive Fascism as, like Capitalism for the Pope; the Devil's dung. Fascism, at its heart is extreme loyalty to the state and only the state. It advocates total national discipline and an unquestioning obedience to the state and the leadership of the state. In a Democracy, it is the exact opposite, elected officials must work to get elected, they must do what their constituency wants and thus they will constantly work, Democracy has the advantage of public oversight, allowing people to know what their leadership is doing. In a Fascist or erstwhile authoritarian state, the concept of public oversight is anathema, as obedience without question is absolute and does not allow oversight. If there is no oversight, the development of systematic corruption is inevitable. So you can see why Fascism is a negative thing.

I'm sure there are pros but do they beat the cons?

[Ghondra]

It's all good till you have to wear a badge.

Sigged.

[Skyviolia]

Ideologies are not inherently positive or negative, it's the people who inherent them that decide the fate and structure of an ideology (i.e. Making it positive or negative)

[Conscentia]

[...]It is simply extreme authoritarianism, which isn't bad at all.[...]

No, it's not "simply extreme authoritarianism". That is incredibly inaccurate.

[Ifreann]

But at least the trains run on time!

[Mike the Progressive]

Yes, it's a very, very negative thing.

[Exelia]

It's all good till you have to wear a badge.

Sigged.

I'm honored.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

But at least the trains run on time!

Which is either a positive or a negative thing, based on what train cart you are placed on seat you are assigned.

[The Conez Imperium]

But at least the trains run on time!

Which is either a positive or a negative thing, based on what train cart you are placed on.

I'd rather be on a train cabin than in a cart...

[The Liberated Territories]

Socialism by another name...

[incoming socialists]

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Which is either a positive or a negative thing, based on what train cart you are placed on.

I'd rather be on a train cabin than in a cart...

See, I was looking for the right wording. English...

Socialism by another name...

[incoming socialists]

[Incoming centrist]

No, stop that.

[Conscentia]

But at least the trains run on time!

http://www.snopes.com/history/govern/trains.asp