Differences between ignomy and infamy

[alt_luna]

These 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?

Comments

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_terry]

I like her.

She's one that I think could have survived Master.