[thechat] The Sociology of Fanaticism

[Erika Meyer]

I don't really see the deadhead phenomenon as being parallel to 104
days of rollercoaster or psycho hockey-dads.

Deadheads struck me as being a group of people who created their own
tribe/scene/reality/family sort of like a gangster kid might do.  A
place to belong with it's own set of rules.  It's a group/scene thing
not an extreme individualistic thing.  That seems to be a significant
difference to me.

Because if the only unifying theme is "fanaticism" -- well that just
seems like a judgement call to me.  One person's fanatic is another
person's enthusiast.  Hmm... now who was it who was walking around
Austin bars stamping random people with the cube stamp...

Anyway, in as far as group/scene enthusiasm goes, there was a
fascinating feature in a recent Portland Mercury about the Klingon
karaoke scene here in Portland which seems to attract some very
dedicated enthusiasts.
http://portlandmercury.com/2002-10-31/feature.html

It also explored what bit of space in the male psyche Klingon
warriorship seems to fill.  It seems pretty much like good healthy
fun to  me.

As for psychotic I don't think "fanaticism" is listed in the DSM IV
as a mental disorder.  Obsessive-Compulsive, maybe.

As for positive, I think that "fanaticism" by definition is not a
positive term.    I would look it up in the dictionary to be sure,
though.  The wisdom of the ages suggests that a middle road is
preferable in most cases to an extreme road.  Being a "fan" is one
thing.  Being a "fanatic" is another.

MHO of course.

Erika



Ken Kogler wrote:

>A few to get started:
>
>   * Crazy fan stabs Monica Seles in the back
>   * "Dead heads" -- those people that followed The Greatful
>      Dead around for years on end
>   * Man rides rollercoaster for 104 days straight
>     <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2234589.stm>
>   * Hockey Dad beats another dad to death in stands
>     <http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/hockey000710.html>
>
>A few of these are pretty depraved, but some are positive, too -- I'm
>looking for more positives than negatives... I don't want the whole
>report to be about psychotic people...  :)
>
>Thanks, everyone!
>
>--Ken Kogler

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