Thanks, Jack. I hadn’t checked the context, either—it makes more sense as a reply here.
That said: “coward” has both a denotation and a connotation, and it doesn’t make a great deal of sense to promote usage which undermines the former. Yes, people do … but we can do better than that. Particularly given that the denotationally-accurate term “fanatic” connotes disapproval as well.
Edit: On reflection, upvoted. Yes, the words have meanings—but when they are used as political weapons, as they are in this context, these meanings are frequently ignored in favor of their political purpose.
Thanks, Jack. I hadn’t checked the context, either—it makes more sense as a reply here.
That said: “coward” has both a denotation and a connotation, and it doesn’t make a great deal of sense to promote usage which undermines the former. Yes, people do … but we can do better than that. Particularly given that the denotationally-accurate term “fanatic” connotes disapproval as well.
Edit: On reflection, upvoted. Yes, the words have meanings—but when they are used as political weapons, as they are in this context, these meanings are frequently ignored in favor of their political purpose.