When Too Much Is Dangerous
Do you think that there will ever be a time in your life when you have to say these words?
It was gruesome but necessary.
This expression is apparently famous in an online computer game, World of Warcraft, but has now become a popular horrific response attributed to the main suspect in the recent killings in Oslo, Norway. As we all know, around 90 innocent victims have been killed majority of which included a great number of youth campers in what appears to be a “necessary” act according to the main suspect.
You could read the story here.
I then wonder: Would the victims who survived this ordeal and the bereaved families of those who died ever accept the justification that their near-deaths and deaths, respectively, were necessary just to drive home a point and deliver a message to the government?
At this point in time, where the acts of terrorism happened so close to home, I cannot just remain apathetic about this. As a father, I was really appalled at how young people were subjected to this kind of “gruesome but necessary” violence early on in their lives.
And the root of all this is: Fanaticism.
Fanaticism, according to Wikipedia, is:
a belief or behavior involving uncritical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious or political cause or in some cases sports, or with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby. According to Winston Churchill, “A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”
In his book Crazy Talk, Stupid Talk, Neil Postman states that “the key to all fanatical beliefs is that they are self-confirming….(some beliefs are) fanatical not because they are ‘false’, but because they are expressed in such a way that they can never be shown to be false.”
The behavior of a fan with overwhelming enthusiasm for a given subject is differentiated from the behavior of a fanatic by the fanatic’s violation of prevailing social norms. Though the fan’s behavior may be judged as odd or eccentric, it does not violate such norms. A fanatic differs from a crank, in that a crank is defined as a person who holds a position or opinion which is so far from the norm as to appear ludicrous and/or probably wrong, such as a belief in a Flat Earth. In contrast, the subject of the fanatic’s obsession may be “normal”, such as an interest in religion or politics, except that the scale of the person’s involvement, devotion, or obsession with the activity or cause is abnormal or disproportionate.
How strongly do we really feel about things that we believe in?
How far could we really go in pursuit of something that we feel passionately about?
What extremes are we capable of doing in the name of an idea?
Can You Justify Saying That “Yes, It Was Gruesome But Necessary?”
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. If you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to share, retweet, or bookmark! Thank you!
To Your Success,
Elmar Sandyck
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Hi Elmar,
what is an interesting post.
Fanaticism is definitely a dangerous thing, for the fanatic and the environment.
The question is: What is the difference between a burning desire or an obsession.
The word “obsession” has a negative touch in German, however Randy Gage says that “Success in any endeavour requires an obsession.”
Probably it’s true wisdom to find out when we are still positively obsessed and when we are already fanatic.
Thanks for sharing your insights.
Take care
Oliver
This is a real thinker… I’m struck by the question. It reminds me of the little that I know about Nelson Mandela, and the fact that in the early days, they used to plant bombs and do other acts of terrorism because they felt that there was no other way to make their point.
Given the good that has arisen from Nelson Mandela’s subsequent suffering and work, where do we stand on the actions that were deemed necessary at the time? With hindsight, it’s easy to make justifications, but how do we know to separate that which we deem right at the time, and that which we do not?
Elmar, aloha. Very thought provoking post. While I understand pursuing something you are passionate about, I do not believe that can be done at the “expense” of anyone else.
Who are we to say “my way is the right way” and this is the irreparable harm I am going to cause TO OTHERS to prove it. If a fanatic wants to make a statement, let them harm themselves, not others. They can set themselves on fires, jump off a building or any number of dramatic demonstrations to prove their point.
Accompanying the “act” they can leave a rambling manifesto.
Thx so much, Elmar, for this beautifully expressed post. Aloha. Janet
Hi Elmar,
When one considers horrific events like that of the Norway killings, 9/11 or any event that results in tragic loss of life there is usually some fanatical ideology that is the driver of this kind of behavior.
The perpetrators would argue that it is necessary to make their point but as you say the victims and families of those lost would find it impossible to see that it was necessary.
There is another angle though although it is not one that everybody subscribes too of course. If you believe that we are eternal and re-incarnate to learn lessons and that we all choose every life circumstance that we encounter then everything that happens is necessary as gruesome as these events may be.
It does give some kind of understanding to why so many seemingly innocent people have to endure such suffering and loss.
Thanks for sharing a thought provoking post Elmar.
~Marcus
This is a very interesting post. Really makes you stop and think. There is often such a fine line between passion and belief and all out fanaticism. So many people are of the mind that you must commit to something fully and without reservation to call yourself a believer. I think it also depends on how you value immediate human life, rather than the concept of bettering the world as you see it.
Hi Oliver,
Thanks for your insights, Oliver. I truly appreciate it. Indeed, we should be able to make that fine line distinction about obsession and fanaticism. Although we should pursue aims and goals with such fervor, we should start with the premise that the aims and goals that we have are morally good in the first place. It all comes down to motive and intent.
Talk soon,
Elmar
Hi Janet,
My pleasure! Indeed, we just have to know when to set limits. At some point, we have to know when to stop especially when it’s already at the point where someone is bound to get hurt.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Take care,
Elmar
Hi Marcus,
Most fanatic people are really smart, self-sacrificing individuals that believe in the justness of their causes. But the irony of it is that in their pursuit for a higher goodness, they have to do something bad. That is the saddest part.
Elmar
Hi Jane,
I agree. It is important that we shouldn’t be too drawn towards a belief that our enemies are less than human just to make the world better. Also, most fanatics are driven by pride, a one-sided sense of justice, and they strongly believe that they are the only ones who are right. People who are compassionate can never be a fanatic since they will always try to look into the situation of others and consider their position, too.
Elmar
Hi Dan,
Exactly. Let’s not play God and decide who stays alive and who gets sacrificed all in the name of something that we believe in. There’s always room for a dialogue. Things in this world really don’t operate in the time that we expect it to be. That’s why we struggle and although we may not see the results in our time, someone is bound to finish it for us in the end without endangering the lives of innocent people.
Thanks for the comment.
Take care,
Elmar