Differences between ignomy and infamy
Nov. 16th, 2010 09:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_lunaThese two words look rather alike, and they are both states that one doesn't want to be in, I think. But there are subtle differences.
Ignomy means great dishonour and humiliation. Not only does everyone rather hate you, but they avoid and dislike you because you've done something dreadful, perhaps even something ridiculous, so that you can't raise your eyes up to meet any other person's without blushing terribly. There's really nothing good about ignomy, I don't think.
Infamy, according to my dictionary, is all about evil fame and reputation. It brings an extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous acts.
But who decides whether those acts are shameful or criminal or outrageous? That's what I wonder. If you have an enemy, and he does infamous things, you would hate him, but I suppose the people who were friends with that enemy, YOUR enemies, in other words, would rather like those things.
The way that Siri
I think that the difference between ignomy and infamy is that with ignomy, no one thinks the ignomious (is that a word?) thing is admirable or special. But with infamous things, your enemies might rather like them.
Except, of course, if the Lord Protector decides something is infamous. Then of course nobody may like it. Because He is the stand in and cipher for every one of us, all true citizens, I mean, isn't he? And no one can BE his enemy and expect to live, or at least to have any right-thinking person be their friend. That's quite convenient, because it helps people keep their ethical guidelines quite straight, doesn't it?
Ignomy means great dishonour and humiliation. Not only does everyone rather hate you, but they avoid and dislike you because you've done something dreadful, perhaps even something ridiculous, so that you can't raise your eyes up to meet any other person's without blushing terribly. There's really nothing good about ignomy, I don't think.
Infamy, according to my dictionary, is all about evil fame and reputation. It brings an extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous acts.
But who decides whether those acts are shameful or criminal or outrageous? That's what I wonder. If you have an enemy, and he does infamous things, you would hate him, but I suppose the people who were friends with that enemy, YOUR enemies, in other words, would rather like those things.
I think that the difference between ignomy and infamy is that with ignomy, no one thinks the ignomious (is that a word?) thing is admirable or special. But with infamous things, your enemies might rather like them.
Except, of course, if the Lord Protector decides something is infamous. Then of course nobody may like it. Because He is the stand in and cipher for every one of us, all true citizens, I mean, isn't he? And no one can BE his enemy and expect to live, or at least to have any right-thinking person be their friend. That's quite convenient, because it helps people keep their ethical guidelines quite straight, doesn't it?
I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 04:00 am (UTC)She's one that I think could have survived Master.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 04:01 am (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 04:03 am (UTC)It's nice to able to actually like somebody that's in my House. Unlike those swots that hang around in the Ravenclaw corner of the library and look down their nose at everyone. Luna's not like that.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 04:30 am (UTC)Like she's always right on the edge of getting into really, really big trouble. The sort you don't come back from. And what's more, I don't think it'd matter much to her one way or the other, which is kind of scary.
But you're right about the Corner. They think they are far, far more clever and important than they really are. Most likely going to end up a bunch of pencil pushers at the Ministry any ways.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 05:14 am (UTC)About Ravenclaw Corner, I mean.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 05:16 am (UTC)I think I COULD like her. But I'm a bit afraid of getting attached.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 02:58 pm (UTC)I don't know what she's thinking when she says stuff like this out loud. Or, y'know, writes it down. Because the thing is, it's all about thinking. But stuff you ought to just keep in your own head if you're going to think it.
And she doesn't seem to care about that. Anyone knowing what she thinks, I mean.
Guess that's what got her father in trouble all the time, too.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 04:02 pm (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2010-11-17 03:01 pm (UTC)The stuff about the protector she says at the end.
I mean, for Luna, that's kind of--I don't know. It's not what she usually does. Covering herself that way.
Don't know why she bothered writing it all out to begin with, though. But that's just Luna. She's just daft like that.