The man who is courageous in any matter except physical danger is also thought ill of. Indifference to public opinion, for example, is regarded as a challenge, and the public does what it can to punish the man who dares to flout its authority.
Source: The Conquest of Happiness, by Bertrand Russell
https://russell-j.com/beginner/HA15-070.HTM
* a brief comment:
The Pros and Cons of Contrarian Tactics
The term gyakubari ("contrarian") can generally be defined as "deliberately taking a position opposed to the majority's opinions or actions." When, then, did this word begin to be used in this sense?
In the world of stock trading, "gyakubari" is used as a technical term meaning "a trading strategy that goes against the prevailing market trend" (contrarian investing). In the media as well, some commentators adopt contrarian opinions --contrary opinions-- even when most commentators support the majority view.
Simply repeating what most people already think does not attract much attention. But those who voice minority or contrarian views stand out, and they are often in demand, receiving invitations from many programs.
Linguistically, "gyakubari" originally emerged as a term from stock market jargon. Afterward, it appears to have been extended metaphorically to refer more broadly to "an attitude of opposing the majority opinion or dominant trend."
When, then, did people begin using "gyakubari", or expressions equivalent to it, in the sense of "opposing the majority"?
In my exchanges with ChatGPT, I received the following explanation:
【 In English, "contrarian" refers to a person who opposes widely accepted opinions or customs, and dictionaries define it as "a person who takes a position opposite to that of most people."
The earliest recorded use of "contrarian" as a noun dates to 1954.
Thus, in the English-speaking world, calling someone who opposes the majority a "contrarian" appears to have become established by the mid-1950s.
Meanwhile, the Japanese term "gyakubari" seems to have spread beyond stock-market usage and taken on the colloquial sense of "holding views or behaving in ways opposed to the mainstream" only relatively recently -- around the late 2000s to 2010s, according to linguistic observers -- particularly in the era of social media. 】
There were other explanations as well, but I omit them here for brevity.
To survive as a "contrarian" commentator, however, simply wanting attention is not enough. Contrarian claims that lack solid grounding are quickly refuted, forcing the speaker to withdraw. For that reason, commentators known for contrarian views tirelessly search for evidence and facts to support their claims and take care to prepare for criticism. If they can withstand criticism to a reasonable degree -- say, seventy or eighty percent -- they will likely survive as contrarian commentators.
Do you like being a contrarian? Or do you dislike it?
Your answer to that question may reveal something about your personality.
ラッセル関係電子書籍一覧
#Bertrand_Russell
Source: The Conquest of Happiness, by Bertrand Russell
https://russell-j.com/beginner/HA15-070.HTM
* a brief comment:
 ラッセル関係電子書籍一覧 |
The term gyakubari ("contrarian") can generally be defined as "deliberately taking a position opposed to the majority's opinions or actions." When, then, did this word begin to be used in this sense?
In the world of stock trading, "gyakubari" is used as a technical term meaning "a trading strategy that goes against the prevailing market trend" (contrarian investing). In the media as well, some commentators adopt contrarian opinions --contrary opinions-- even when most commentators support the majority view.
Simply repeating what most people already think does not attract much attention. But those who voice minority or contrarian views stand out, and they are often in demand, receiving invitations from many programs.
Linguistically, "gyakubari" originally emerged as a term from stock market jargon. Afterward, it appears to have been extended metaphorically to refer more broadly to "an attitude of opposing the majority opinion or dominant trend."
When, then, did people begin using "gyakubari", or expressions equivalent to it, in the sense of "opposing the majority"?
In my exchanges with ChatGPT, I received the following explanation:
【 In English, "contrarian" refers to a person who opposes widely accepted opinions or customs, and dictionaries define it as "a person who takes a position opposite to that of most people."
The earliest recorded use of "contrarian" as a noun dates to 1954.
Thus, in the English-speaking world, calling someone who opposes the majority a "contrarian" appears to have become established by the mid-1950s.
Meanwhile, the Japanese term "gyakubari" seems to have spread beyond stock-market usage and taken on the colloquial sense of "holding views or behaving in ways opposed to the mainstream" only relatively recently -- around the late 2000s to 2010s, according to linguistic observers -- particularly in the era of social media. 】
There were other explanations as well, but I omit them here for brevity.
To survive as a "contrarian" commentator, however, simply wanting attention is not enough. Contrarian claims that lack solid grounding are quickly refuted, forcing the speaker to withdraw. For that reason, commentators known for contrarian views tirelessly search for evidence and facts to support their claims and take care to prepare for criticism. If they can withstand criticism to a reasonable degree -- say, seventy or eighty percent -- they will likely survive as contrarian commentators.
Do you like being a contrarian? Or do you dislike it?
Your answer to that question may reveal something about your personality.
ラッセル関係電子書籍一覧
#Bertrand_Russell