Phobias that aren't really "phobias"

[manifold]

In the never ending war of word manipulation between the right and left, both sides have landed some monumental victories. Consider the vilification of the word "liberal" for example. That one has been paying dividends to the right for decades now. But the left has scored a D-Day like victory with the widespread adoption of words suffixed with "phobia" (or phobe) that are in fact not phobias at all. The term phobia connotes two very specific characteristics. First, that it is a mental disorder. All true clinical phobias are in fact mental disorders. And second, that it is irrational. And with the exception a minority fringe element, few people labeled with political phobias actually qualify as having a mental disorder marked by irrational fear. Take "Islamophobia" for example. Anyone who expresses any concern whatsoever about the spread of Islam is labeled an Islamophobe. History has shown what happens when any religion becomes the law of the land, and it's never been good. Being concerned about this is quite sane and far from irrational. Yet the term is often used and widely accepted, implying that anyone who dares to express concern about the spread of Islam has a mental disorder. So in this particular battle in the larger war of word manipulation, well done liberals, well done.

So what other "phobias" can you think of that aren't actually phobias?

You can express concern about the spread of Islam within the context of history without having an irrational fear that Sharia Law could ever threaten the U.S. Constitution.

Agreed.

At least not without us first losing a bloody "holy" war. A war that I don't see anywhere on the horizon at present.

 

[manifold]

People with real phobias often suffer greatly because of their mental disorders. Many of them cannot even function in life because it is so debilitating. I think it cheapens their suffering to arbitrarily use the suffix "phobia" so callously just to advance a political agenda. Such compassion from the left.

You don't think spending all your time obsessing over gays or muslims is conducive to mental health, do you?

I wouldn't know.

But I'd be interested to hear how it works out for you.

 

[manifold]

irrational behaviour cannot become rational by rationalization

Of course not.

btw: to what behaviors do you refer?

 

[L.K.Eder]

irrational behaviour cannot become rational by rationalization

Of course not.

btw: to what behaviors do you refer?

to irrational behaviours.

i fully trust you to figure it out in the context of this thread.

 

[manifold]

irrational behaviour cannot become rational by rationalization

Of course not.

btw: to what behaviors do you refer?

to irrational behaviours.

i fully trust you to figure it out in the context of this thread.

Your trust is misplaced.

I honestly do not know what you are implying here.

I guess you can educate me or not, it's up to you.

 

[L.K.Eder]

Of course not.

btw: to what behaviors do you refer?

to irrational behaviours.

i fully trust you to figure it out in the context of this thread.

Your trust is misplaced.

I honestly do not know what you are implying here.

I guess you can educate me or not, it's up to you.

there is not much to the little truism i threw out above.

it generally refers to people who act as if they are phobic, diagnosed or not.

they will usually have a "rational" explanation for their behaviour, thereby denying being phobic.

examples in this thread:

homophobia

islamophobia


i agree that the word is mis- and abused, btw.

just not to the extent you suggested in the OP.

 

[manifold]

there is not much to the little truism i threw out above.

it generally refers to people who act as if they are phobic, diagnosed or not.

Can you give me an example or three?

 

[L.K.Eder]

there is not much to the little truism i threw out above.

it generally refers to people who act as if they are phobic, diagnosed or not.

Can you give me an example or three?

now you want specifics after your generalizations?

just read any DADT or gay marriage "debate".

or any "debate" about creeping sharia and/or the NYC "mosque".

 

[manifold]

there is not much to the little truism i threw out above.

it generally refers to people who act as if they are phobic, diagnosed or not.

Can you give me an example or three?

now you want specifics after your generalizations?

just read any DADT or gay marriage "debate".

or any "debate" about creeping sharia and/or the NYC "mosque".

So you can't.

Duly noted.

 

[L.K.Eder]

Can you give me an example or three?

now you want specifics after your generalizations?

just read any DADT or gay marriage "debate".

or any "debate" about creeping sharia and/or the NYC "mosque".

So you can't.

Duly noted.

quit fishing.

 

[Valerie]

I get what you're saying, mani...You resent being labeled a "phobe" for expressing concern over your observations about Islam about gays about race, etc.


Maybe you are a word mani-pulation labelphobe...?

 

[strollingbones]

what is fear of rep called?

 

[Valerie]

what is fear of rep called?

Repuphobia, of course.

 

[manifold]

I get what you're saying, mani...You resent being labeled a "phobe" for expressing concern over your observations about Islam about gays about race, etc.


Maybe you are a word mani-pulation labelphobe...?

I've actually never been labeled a phobe irl.

I'm simply editorializing based on my observations.

 

[xotoxi]

When one suffers from Danta Fevah, are they a dantophobe or a dantophile?

 

[manifold]

When one suffers from Danta Fevah, are they a dantophobe or a dantophile?

That needs to be determined on a case by case basis.

House is a dantephile
Jon is a dantephobe
Fitnah somehow manages to be both.

 

[Madeline]

I have a few irrational fears, but they don't control my life. The worst is, I am convinced elevators are suspended on a thread that is fast unraveling.....all over the world. Rationally, I know, no elevator-plunging deaths have ever been reported (to my knowledge, and if you know of some, please STFU) but that does not stop me from fretting.

 

[manifold]

now you want specifics after your generalizations?

just read any DADT or gay marriage "debate".

or any "debate" about creeping sharia and/or the NYC "mosque".

So you can't.

Duly noted.

quit fishing.

Good idea.

Fishing for insight in waters bereft of knowledge and wisdom is time wasted indeed.

 

[Ravi]

I've been thinking it over. It probably is unfair to call manitool anythingophobic...bigot fits better.

 

[Solace]

Pedophobia, oh wait a second...