Monday, June 6, 2011

What's the Difference?

The NaBloPoMo prompt today is "What's the difference between a fan and a fanatic?"

The short answer is self-control and sanity. 

A fan is a person with a like or admiration for something or someone.  They enjoy being a spectator to that person or event.  They participate vicariously in that person or things ups and downs. 

But, and this is the dividing line, they know when to stop.

A fanatic is a person who has lost their self-control regarding that particular person or thing and has allowed it to become a complete obsession in their life. 

"A fanatic is someone who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." [Winston Churchill]

The fanatic will justify that obsession with everything they can to make it seem normal. 

Where do you think the line between fan and fanatic lies?  Is there something or someone that you allowed yourself to become a fanatic about?  How did you come back down from it to return to being a fan?  Is it ever OK to be a fanatic?  Is there ever anything it's OK to be fanatical about?

Meet me in the comments.