Gilda

Yeah, like the thesaurus, for example.

But I have to disagree here. Feeling intensely about a subject doesn't necessarily lead to extremist thinking. One can have a position on the spectrum that's moderate and still feel strongly about that moderate position.

For example, I happen to feel very strongly about issues concerning gay rights, wanting equal treatment and protection for gays and transgender people. I feel very strongly about this. Howver, my position is fairly moderate. I don't want special privileges or preferential treatment, just for everyone to be treated equally. Moderate position, high intensity.

Think of it as a four quadrant grid running from -10 to +10 along both axes, with the x axis being a measure of where one is on the issue, and the Y axis measuring the degree of intensity of one's feelings. On gay rights, I'd be pretty close to the center on position, maybe a +1 or +2 on the position scale, but very high on the intensity scale, well up in the +8 to +10 range.

Conversely, on the issue of saying the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, I'm way off on one end in my position--probably a -8 there, but don't really care very much, maybe a +2.

I think people like PETA or Truth, who go to such extremes when promoting their message are like extreme radical feminists or people who constantly play the racism or sexism card where it isn't warranted. They do more damage to their cause than benefit.

Gilda

People who go to extrems

__________________
I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that.

~Steven Colbert