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(NOTE: This is an installment in my “Handling Online Vermin� series about addressing people with poor online communication habits. Series intro and index.)

Zealots: Members of this relatively rare and benign species of online vermin are generally fine until engaged on the topic of their particular obsession. A zealot’s obsession may be religious, political, social, technological, historical – in fact, related to any sphere of life or intellectual endeavor. They confuse their opinions and perspectives on this topic with “the ultimate truth.â€?

In any communication that’s even tangentially related to their area of obsession, zealots crave clearly marked boundaries. Uncertainty and gray areas unsettle them. They calm their deep fear of uncertainty by sparring with people who disagree with them. They may even actively seek out opposing perspectives in order to publicly counter or criticize them. When triggered, zealots are more comfortable with crusades or aggressive attempts at persuasion than with civil conversation or debate…

Zealots tend to perceive information and interaction through the filter of their zealotry – which means they generally view any expression of deviation from their chosen truth as opposition zealotry, regardless of context or presentation. (”I’m not the zealot, you are!”)

Often, zealots personalize perceived opposition – even statements which are completely impersonal or unrelated to them. They can experience such expressions as a personal affront or dangerous misrepresentation. This triggers an overreaction.

The key to handling zealots is to understand that their intentions are generally positive, even though their behavior is not. Zealots are passionate people who want to be helpful. They want to help you personally by freeing you of the delusion they perceive in you, or help a community (or society at large) by preventing you from infecting innocents with dangerous ideas.

This means that responding to zealotry with a counterattack is not only generally ineffective, it’s also usually inappropriate…

HOW TO SPOT A ZEALOT

If you’re very attached to your own ideas, assumptions, or sense of “rightness,” it’s easy to mistake healthy disagreement or factual/contextual corrections for zealotry. Therefore, as with other online vermin, if you think you may have encountered a zealot, PAUSE! Then, PAUSE AGAIN! True zealots are relatively rare in the online environment, so it’s especially important to take time to consider the situation carefully.

The hallmark of online zealotry is a combination of behaviors. Alone, each may be insignificant. But when most appear together, and especially when they comprise a recurring pattern of interaction with a particular person, you probably have encountered a zealot:

• Absolutism: Zealots tend to present their views in absolutist language, such as always or never. They are averse to discussing exceptions, and tend to dismiss them as irrelevant.
• Denial of diversity: To a zealot, no opposition to their “truth” is potentially valid. Contradictory views have no right to exist. Zealots treat all contradiction as error, delusion, or, subversion.
• Righteousness: When facing a sustained challenge, zealots tend to resort to the language of morality (especially demonization) as the linchpin of their argument – even if their particular area of obsession has nothing to do with morals, values, or faith. Examples: “Microsoft is evil and must be stopped.” Or, “John Kerry is our only hope for political salvation.” Or, “A flat income tax is the only just solution.”
• Exhaustive persistence: When zealots encounter a contradictory view, they will engage in debate to the point of running in circles, in an effort to exhaust the opponent into admitting defeat. They tend to repeat themselves in this process – an indication that they are trying to wear you down, rather than move the discussion forward.
• Need to declare victory: Zealots cannot simply agree to disagree, and they are very concerned with appearances. Since they are judgemental, they have a deep fear of being misjudged. Generally, this declaration must be public; there must be a record of it to make it real. Consequently, zealots will exit a debate or dispute only when they find a way to declare victory. Usually this means getting the opponent to admit that the zealot is right – or at least to concede that possibility. However, it can mean needing to have the last word. (“You don’t want to continue this discussion because you know you’re wrong.”) When zealots are faced with a stalemate (which is often the case when two zealots spar), they typically retreat to another venue (discussion forum, weblog, etc.) in order to publicly declare victory.

JUST LET THE ZEALOT “WIN”

When you encounter true zealots, keep in mind that they are primarily acting out of fear – first of uncertainty, next of judgement.

Have compassion for this – we all do it sometime.

Ultimately zealots seek to quell their fear. You can respond to zealotry in ways that calm the zealot’s fear without violating your integrity. This way, both you and the zealot will be relieved, and the confrontation will end quickly and peacefully.

Follow these steps. After each one, pause and observe. The zealot might exit at any point in this process. Don’t exert more effort than necessary, or it will appear as a patronizing counterattack:

1. Thank the zealot for raising a contradictory view (even if the zealot did so rudely). This indicates respect and tolerance for contradictory views. You may wish to refer to my earlier article, Why Disagreement Is Good.
2. Peacefully set your boundaries. State clearly that your views are you own, and they represent your understanding of the topic at hand. Avoid the appearance of trying to persuade others.
3. Make a concession. Really, it won’t kill you to admit that someone who disagrees with you may have a point. Admitting that other valid views exist does not mean surrendering your own perspective. If possible, find some aspect of the zealot’s position (however minor) with which you can agree. Be flexible, and be open to reconsidering your views. Don’t allow your perspective to fossilize.
4. Don’t fight the inevitable declaration of victory. This is the hard one – it requires courage, patience, and integrity. A zealot must declare victory, that’s the whole point of zealotry. Such declarations refect the zealot’s emotional needs more than the actual situation. Responding in any way to the victory declaration will only prolong the conflict. Reassure yourself that what you think, your own sense of self, matters more than what anyone says about you. If you must vent your frustration (zealot encounters are exceedingly frustrating) do so privately, with someone who will help your frustration dissipate rather than magnify.
5. Move on. Put your attention elswhere – toward a new topic, or in another area of the internet or the real world. Despite the appearance of permanence, all online interactions are fundamentally emphemeral. Their significance fades quickly. Trust that in an hour, a day, a week, or a month, no one will care or even remember the unpleasant exchange.

If, after following these steps, the zealot persists – you may have an online troll on your hands. (Or the notoriously pugnacious and tenacious zealot-troll hybrid). Change your tactics and respond in ways that effectively deter trolls.

AND COMING AFTER THAT: Skewers, and more vermin…

PREVIOUSLY: Troublesome Trolls

Index and intro to this series…

More on zealotry, in the larger sense, from Wikipredia