Extremism

[Occupied Deutschland]

Quick Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVNoClu0h9M

In the light of the recent shooting in Arizona, and the extreme rhetoric bouncing between both parties, what does NSG answer to a very simple question:
Is extremism itself evil, and moderation itself a virtue? Or is extremism only evil when harm comes to others because of it?

Personally I agree with Ol' Barry up there, extremism is not evil until it harms other people. However, extremism can be a lead-up to people harming others. Thoughts?

[Lackadaisical2]

Its not inherently bad to hurt people.

Extremism isn't evil.

(*Insert extremism in the defense of liberty quote*)

[Dinosaurana]

Extremism IS evil, because it causes someone to try harmful acts in the name of a cause he/she believes in. It doesn't justify bombing a building, assassinating a government official, or threaten people at all.

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

Extremism is okay as long as it leads to women.

And booze.

[Wilgrove]

I always believe in what Uncle Ben from Spiderman says. "With great powers, come great responsibility." We're one of the few nations who has the freedom to engage in politics and free speech. However, with such freedom and liberties, we have the responsibility to use it wisely. Lately, we have not been using our freedom of speech, or freedom to engage in politics wisely. I think it's high time someone stood up and force everyone else to do a reality check.

[Barringtonia]

Any new issue will be seen as extreme at first and often, in order to change minds, extreme action is taken - though I'm not convinced it's required.

Feminism was an extremist position for example, did throwing oneself under a horse advance the cause or not - is it simpy part of a wide array of factors, I don't know.

I certainly accept extremism both for good and bad, without it we stagnate.

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

Extremism IS evil, because it causes someone to try harmful acts in the name of a cause he/she believes in. It doesn't justify bombing a building, assassinating a government official, or threaten people at all.

That's called "terrorism," not extremism.

[Xomic]

Extremism is evil. It muddles the facts of any matter and disrupts actual debate and dialogue.

It's a derailment of any civilized society.

[Unilisia]

Extremism is what it is. Evil is undefinable, and depending on society, so is good. It is neither good nor bad, it entirely depends on the situation.

[Barringtonia]

Extremism is evil. It muddles the facts of any matter and disrupts actual debate and dialogue.

The problem is that what constitutes 'civil' debate can be simply wrong, again feminism is a good example where civilised was considered a state where a women knew her place..

..we call them the good old days and by god they were.

[Faith Hope Charity]

depends on the brand of extremism.. violent extremism is bad, imo... altho i consider myself an extremist, i would never resort to violence... nonviolent "extremism" i think can be good, because it can show alternatives to the accepted mainstream politics, without duress or fear of destructive reprecussions.

[The Rich Port]

I wouldn't say "evil", but it doesn't really do any good. It oftentimes negates it's other extremity and discourages finding logical, sensible middle ground. Reason and logic are a virtue, and anger and hate are evil, so I guess it's easy to associate extremism with evil and reason and logic with good.

[Communist Winnipeg]

Please provide extreme rhetoric from the left in America. I've been trying to fine any authoritive ' call to arms' from the left and sincerely cannot find it.

[Lackadaisical2]

Please provide extreme rhetoric from the left in America. I've been trying to fine any authoritive ' call to arms' from the left and sincerely cannot find it.

We got rid of them after they kept trying to kill our presidents. :3

[FREEaquaticdancelesson]

This is a very big generalization of a methodology.

We only base a method by its end result and means of accomplishing the result.

For instance, Martin Luther King Jr was willing to be imprisoned and shot for his beliefs, this was extremist, yet ethical and justified.
Yet the example of the Arizona woman being shot was also extremist and seen as unethical.

You could go onto argue about "ethics", but that's whole another game.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Extremism is only evil if you are extremely devoted to a wrong idea or if you become violent. For example, being an extremist theocrat is bad. Being an extremist believer in civil liberties, not such a problem.

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

You could go onto argue about "ethics", but that's whole another game.

Actually, no, I couldn't.

I fucking hate ethics. >.<

[Meryuma]

I'm a mutualist anarchist who opposes electoral politics and thinks that if you oppose a law, and it would be in your self-interest to break it, you should, so I can't exactly say I'm against extremism. I think radical/revolutionary politics are just what we need, and that "moderation" and "pragmatism" are detestable in the face of injustice. However, I don't condone terrorism.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Extremism is only evil if you are extremely devoted to a wrong idea or if you become violent. For example, being an extremist theocrat is bad. Being an extremist believer in civil liberties, not such a problem.

But if you are just extremely devoted to a bad idea, are you evil. Or just...stupid?

[Wilgrove]

Extremism is only evil if you are extremely devoted to a wrong idea or if you become violent. For example, being an extremist theocrat is bad. Being an extremist believer in civil liberties, not such a problem.

But if you are just extremely devoted to a bad idea, are you evil. Or just...stupid?

Can't you be evil AND stupid?

[Malkuth Dei]

I think a lot of stuff gets called extremism that isn't really extremism; and think that one has to separate extremism, fundamentalism, supremacism, and mental dysfunctionality. Obviously, there can be a lot of overlap. Extremism would be simply taking something too far. Fundamentalism or ideological purism would be commitment to certain basic or historical ideals (real, imagined, or revived.) Supremacism, I think, is the most dangerous - when an individual or group of individuals believes they have a right to impose their will on another, to be the arbiter of life and death, etc.

The problem with extremism is that the "extreme" or the periphery is measured by proximity to the normal. If diversity is to be celebrated, various forms of "extremism" have to be tolerated: the issue is how to draw the line when it becomes dangerous. Supremacism is almost always inherently dangerous, since lawfare, hate crimes, violence, and terrorism can all be justified by individuals who believe they have a right to impose their will on others without their consent.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Extremism is only evil if you are extremely devoted to a wrong idea or if you become violent. For example, being an extremist theocrat is bad. Being an extremist believer in civil liberties, not such a problem.

But if you are just extremely devoted to a bad idea, are you evil. Or just...stupid?

Usually both.

[Meryuma]

Supremacism, I think, is the most dangerous - when an individual or group of individuals believes they have a right to impose their will on another, to be the arbiter of life and death, etc.

The state, then, is by definition a supremacist organization.

[The Rich Port]

You could go onto argue about "ethics", but that's whole another game.

Actually, no, I couldn't.

I fucking hate ethics. >.<

You're not a doctor, are you?

[Lackadaisical2]

Actually, no, I couldn't.

I fucking hate ethics. >.<

You're not a doctor, are you?

Even worse, he could have thousands of lives in his hands XD