4 ms·

could you explain what's bizarre about the branding? Do you not like the word 'fanatical'? (which just means 'filled with excessive and single-minded zeal'/'obs

could you explain what's bizarre about the branding? Do you not like the word 'fanatical'? (which just means 'filled with excessive and single-minded zeal'/'obsessively concerned with something.').

OJFord 10y ago
> what's bizarre about the branding [... 'fanatical'] which just means 'filled with excessive and single-minded zeal' Branding your support 'excessive' or 'single-minded' would also be bizarre. Fanaticism is typically taken with religious or political connotations, and derogatorily. Cambridge [0] says: > [informal] extremely interested in something, to a degree that someone [sic] people find unreasonable > [disapproving] holding extreme beliefs that may lead to unreasonable or violent behaviour: a fanatical group that has threatened to assassinate doctors Oxford [1] says: > A person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, especially for an extreme religious or political cause: 'religious fanatics' > ... originally described behaviour that might result from possession by a god or demon ... (Oxford [1]) (Italics mine.) [0] - http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fanatical http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fanatical [1] - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fanatic https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fanatic
- justinclift 10y ago
  An example? https://xkcd.com/705 https://xkcd.com/705 :)
- manarth 10y ago
  No more bizarre than describing someone as a "football fan", "music fan", "star trek fan", etc.
  - OJFord 10y ago
    Why? That's actually a common usage. Add '~atic' to any of those and it's sounds much more extreme; something to disapprove of. I quoted Cambridge online dictionary above as defining it as disapproving, the same dictionary defines 'fan' exactly as you use it, and does not give 'fanatic' as a synonym. Of course it originates as an abbreviation, but the usual usage is very different.
    - ajdlinux 10y ago
      Certainly here in Australia I don't think "football fanatic" would be considered derogatory or disapproving. "Religious fanatic" is a different question, of course, but I happen to think Rackspace's branding is perfectly fine!
    - pertymcpert 10y ago
      It really doesn't, everyone knows that football fanatic is just a big fan of football. Same for any other interest. It's hyperbole but one that everyone knows is hyperbole. Strange that you think otherwise to be honest.
      - OJFord 10y ago
        Well, maybe it's regional. I have at least backed up my surprise at the use with two different dictionary citations, so it can't be that strange of a view.
        praneshp 10y ago
        It's possible your surprise is regional. Rackspace has had success with that branding (though it's ironic to discuss that in this article).
- praneshp 10y ago
  Just a note that I did not downvote you, I am thankful to you for explaining you position politely.

could you explain what's bizarre about the branding? Do you not like the word 'fanatical'? (which just means 'filled with excessive and single-minded zeal'/'obsessively concerned with something.').

OJFord 10y ago

> what's bizarre about the branding [... 'fanatical'] which just means 'filled with excessive and single-minded zeal' Branding your support 'excessive' or 'single-minded' would also be bizarre. Fanaticism is typically taken with religious or political connotations, and derogatorily. Cambridge [0] says: > [informal] extremely interested in something, to a degree that someone [sic] people find unreasonable > [disapproving] holding extreme beliefs that may lead to unreasonable or violent behaviour: a fanatical group that has threatened to assassinate doctors Oxford [1] says: > A person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, especially for an extreme religious or political cause: 'religious fanatics' > ... originally described behaviour that might result from possession by a god or demon ... (Oxford [1]) (Italics mine.) [0] - http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fanatical http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fanatical [1] - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fanatic https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fanatic

justinclift 10y ago
An example? https://xkcd.com/705 https://xkcd.com/705 :)
manarth 10y ago
No more bizarre than describing someone as a "football fan", "music fan", "star trek fan", etc.
- OJFord 10y ago
  Why? That's actually a common usage. Add '~atic' to any of those and it's sounds much more extreme; something to disapprove of. I quoted Cambridge online dictionary above as defining it as disapproving, the same dictionary defines 'fan' exactly as you use it, and does not give 'fanatic' as a synonym. Of course it originates as an abbreviation, but the usual usage is very different.
  - ajdlinux 10y ago
    Certainly here in Australia I don't think "football fanatic" would be considered derogatory or disapproving. "Religious fanatic" is a different question, of course, but I happen to think Rackspace's branding is perfectly fine!
  - pertymcpert 10y ago
    It really doesn't, everyone knows that football fanatic is just a big fan of football. Same for any other interest. It's hyperbole but one that everyone knows is hyperbole. Strange that you think otherwise to be honest.
    - OJFord 10y ago
      Well, maybe it's regional. I have at least backed up my surprise at the use with two different dictionary citations, so it can't be that strange of a view.
      - praneshp 10y ago
        It's possible your surprise is regional. Rackspace has had success with that branding (though it's ironic to discuss that in this article).
praneshp 10y ago
Just a note that I did not downvote you, I am thankful to you for explaining you position politely.