The sternest extremists are usually exes of what they're strongly against - right or wrong?

[freefall]

When I was in elementary school, there was this religion teacher, who is a Christian. I remember how she shoved down out throat the idea that Christian is the only true path of life and the other beliefs are heretic. Even amongst the Christian fanatics, she is of the sternest, the most extreme - including punishing students for swearing in the name of God. No children like her, especially the Muslims (who she accuses of 'stealing' the principals of Christian) and the Buddhists (this is the religion she chastises the most as being the most heretic).

Then the news came around that she used to be a Muslim. A very devout Muslim. And (maybe until now, as she became an evangelist 6 years ago or so) she was the complete opposite after she converted - she looked down so bitterly on someone she used to be.

All right, at this point, I must pinpoint that religion is NOT the main topic of this thread, so those who want to debate or cat fight, just go to the other section of the thorny topic you want to argue about.

The way I see it, those who are the strongest extremists, the ones who are very adamant and stern in defending something they believe in and hating what they believe not, are usually exes of what they're strongly against now. There are so many people I witnessed to be like that until now.

What do you think?

[star-warrior]

It only speaks of how mentally ill some folks are.

[eastofeden]

Hmmmmm.......

I am a tad extremist about three things...equality under the law for everyone...I am staunchly pro choice...and defending the environment...but I have always held these positions.

I am trying to think of some other examples and the only thing I can come up with is I have met some gay activists who were once homophobes.

[gsdx]

It's called 'overcompensation'. It's similar to ex-smokers. They are the most outspoken about second-hand smoke and public bans. Why? They want to remove the temptations so they aren't enticed back into their previous ways.

[freefall]

^Yeah, and drug addicts too. And also the way someone with lifestyle diseases (stroke, diabetes, heart attacks) warn sternly others not to stick to 'you only live once' things and so on.

In a completely different context, your post reminds me of a crappy line: 'He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.'

[The Fly]

Ex-anything is the recipe for screaming extremists.
Ex-Gay; Capitulated to demented hate mongers, and now must become one.
Ex-Drinker; Can't handle social drinking and dosen't think you should either.
Ex-Smoker; Can't handle other peoples smoking (they are the shrillest of the reformed)
Ex-drug user; See Ex-Drinker.
None of these Ex's gave up whatever to live a better life, they gave it up because they feel/felt they had no choice. And that lack of choice is what makes them so bitter towards people who enjoy these things and see no reason to join the bitchy chorus of Ex's.
Anyone who becomes an Ex, replaces whatever they gave up with a crusade to "save" everyonelse from themselves.



Personal Observation; most Ex's revert back to whatever they gave up........often too the extreme. They never except that whatever their issue (booze, drugs, whatever) it's only secondary. The real problem is, they have an addictive personality, and a weak personal constitution.

[csb999]

don't know about being ex-something but from your description personal behaviour is ( I agree ) practically separate from intellect . That woman would be an intense devoted convinced absolute whatever . Used to be a joke England 1930's you either became a devoted lifelong Catholic or a devoted lifelong Communist , all these liberalish anglicanish average people .

[eastofeden]

Ex-anything is the recipe for screaming extremists.
Ex-Gay; Capitulated to demented hate mongers, and now must become one.
Ex-Drinker; Can't handle social drinking and dosen't think you should either.
Ex-Smoker; Can't handle other peoples smoking (they are the shrillest of the reformed)
Ex-drug user; See Ex-Drinker.
None of these Ex's gave up whatever to live a better life, they gave it up because they feel/felt they had no choice. And that lack of choice is what makes them so bitter towards people who enjoy these things and see no reason to join the bitchy chorus of Ex's.
Anyone who becomes an Ex, replaces whatever they gave up with a crusade to "save" everyonelse from themselves.



Personal Observation; most Ex's revert back to whatever they gave up........often too the extreme. They never except that whatever their issue (booze, drugs, whatever) it's only secondary. The real problem is, they have an addictive personality, and a weak personal constitution.

Thats a load of crap