Gadfly (social)
From Free net encyclopedia
"Gadfly" is a term for people who upset the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or attempt to stimulate innovation by proving an irritant.
The term "gadfly" was used by Plato to describe Socrates' relationship of uncomfortable goad to the Athenian politician scene, which he compared to a slow and dimwitted horse. It was used earlier by the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 46 of his book. The term has been used to describe many politicians and social commentators.
During his defense when on trial for his life, Socrates, according to Plato's writings, pointed out that dissent, like the tiny (relative to the size of a horse) gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating could be very high. "If you kill a man like me, you will injure yourselves more than you will injure me," because his role was that of a gadfly, "to sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth."
Modern examples
- Paul Newton, political activist in Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA who regularly cranks out columns that skewer town board members
- Electronic Engineering Times, an EDA magazine, had a column, Industry Gadfly, that hosted articles of controversy.
- Michael Moore typifies a contemporary gadfly, irritating conservatives with controversial questions and accusations.
- Ralph Nader irritates both the political left and right, and made his name as an irritant of big business interests.
- David Orchard, a political maverick who challenged Canada's right-wing forces to abrogate the North American Free Trade Agreement by twice attempting to become leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
- Marilyn Manson, a music artist and self-titled band that are often controversial.
- Internet trolls, while often thought of as an irritant, sometimes claim to be serving the purpose of dispelling groupthink.
- Christopher Hitchens, a British author who is critical of those on the political left and right in both Britain and America.
- Banksy, British graffiti artist.
- Cindy Sheehan has been called a political gadfly because of her repeated, disruptive attempts to call attention to her cause.