(no subject)

[spaz-own-joo.livejournal.com]

I know the usual thing around here is to post on matters of actual political import, but I have a question of mere terminology.

What does the word "apologist" mean to you?

I ask because I learned a different meaning for the word, and I find that in popular use it's used with virtually no reference to that history at all - as a vaguely pejorative term for, well, anyone who believes something you find distasteful. Is there more nuance to the term than this? Help me out here.

Comments

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

One who apologizes. Who says: "yes, the bible included stories of God condoning murder and destruction, but the *real message* is...."

replace "the bible" with whatever you like and replace "murder and destruction" with other negatives, and that's the basic format

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

It's taken its modern context because people hate seeing people be defended.

Everyone who believes something different than you or I is totally irrational even if they can defend it with a rational ethos.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

someone whose job it is to apologize for something that isn't easily defended.

But that's a contextual thing.

[bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com]

The dictionary definition seems to be simply one who defends (a belief, attitude, doctrine).

I've only seen it used as a pejorative for one who apologizes for (i.e. forgives, excuses) some socially-unacceptable belief, attitude, doctrine, e.g. racism, misogyny.

Apologist comes up 7 times in a search in my LJ email:

1. Apologists used as a pejorative for those accused of defending Hezbollah by claiming civilians encountered difficulty escaping a war zone in Lebanon due to Israel's destruction of roads & bridges.
http://bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com/187081.html

2. Apologists used as a pejorative for those explaining that Ahmadinejad did not specifically advocate the violent overthrow of Israel.
http://bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com/197206.html

3. "Sanjay Gupta. HMO apologist. Corporate shill."
http://community.livejournal.com/obama_2008/2769134.html

4. "So to all the pollyanna apologists, can we just please agree that comparing or depicting Obama or any black person to monkeys is off limits."
http://community.livejournal.com/politicsforum/2059783.html

5. "He has demonstrated nothing but reason to believe he will be an Israeli apologist like he already has been, and Presidents before him."
http://community.livejournal.com/talk_politics/61163.html

6. "The problem with scientists like this Virginia guy is just that he's not skeptical at heart -- extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Rather than interrogate his own facts, he's an apologist for anything that doesn't add up..."
http://bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com/305233.html

7. I received a reply entitled "White apologists are so full of shit" for criticizing the generalizability of a study on the attitudes of black children, but the conversation is no longer available— all replies are replaced by Reply from suspended user.
http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/2697976.html?thread=162962936#t162962936

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's a modern vs. classical definition thing. People see "apologist" and think it means "person who makes apologies (even where none are necessarily due)." To me, being an apologist for something actually makes me WANT to talk to you - it means you can clearly explain the positions, generally know the background and counter-points, and can think and speak logically about the position. I really like reading apologetics, because it's a good exposure to other viewpoints.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... looking at my email history I have one where I talked about Chomsky being an apologist for the Khmer Rouge.

Another had mcpreacher calling me a nationalist authoritarian apologist.

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

A scientist who specializes in studying apples?

One apple. Big one.

[papasha-mueller.livejournal.com]

Mr. Jobbs, explaining the left-hand technique in handling iPhones.

Dear Caesar,

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Early Church apologia usually went something like this:

Dear Caesar,

We don't disrespect you or oppose your rule, however we cannot sacrifice at your alter without being excommunicated from our little cult. Please don't take it the wrong way. BTW, we're open to new members. Would you care to join?

Sincerely,
Future lion fodder

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

To me, apologist means a professional trade. It is your business to make arguments, defend and debate your parent organization. You know, lawyers.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

I generally agree with this definition. A member of an organization, be it religious or non that has the purpose of defending that organization with rhetoric.

[speciesofspaces.livejournal.com]

One who uses phrases that contain the words (or meaning) "Yes, but ..." to excuse away something that is patently offensive. For example, "Targeting certain people for harassment because of the color of their skin is not an acceptable way to deal with immigration." "Yes, but the supporters of that law have a point!"

[chron-job.livejournal.com]

I've always understood the word in two shades of meaning. The formal meaning expressed in the wiki article you point to, and a more personal, local connotation.

That connotation comes from the fact that pretty much any apologist in my experience was arguing for Christian theology. My own investment in that argument shades my use of the word.

So, when people engage in certain behaviors which I find stereotypical of a person using reason in a bad-faith way, I call them "apologists"

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

To me it means speaking in defense of one's beliefs or actions after their being challenged. The pejorative part comes when the defense is weak or the challenge isn't fully addressed. Thus when challenged as to why you shot someone in the head, "I was drunk." is a lame apology whereas "I was protecting my children from harm." is a strong apology.

It's one of those words whose definition has been modified over the years. When your mom tells you to "apologize," what she really means is "capitulate because you lack a sufficient apology."