On a side note: there is a famous saying that "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." So people who enjoy weird, cult-like things like constructed languages should apply some humility to their lives. You literally speak a made-up language; stop insulting other weirdos for being weird, weirdo.

It is one of the aims of the Esperantist movement that the learning and speaking of Esperanto should not be considered weird, but something of quite ordinary utility. This is not an aim, mutatis mutandi, of the devotees of, for example, Klingon.

The essential feature of Rauxmismo, that the role of the Esperanto be redefined and its original raison d'être be abandoned, traps the Rauxmistoj into being grouped with the rest of the weirdos that spend time learning constructed languages.

What possible reason could a Rauxmisto have for wanting to boost the number of speakers of Esperanto from a few hundred thousand to fifty million, or two hundred and fifty million.

sudanglo:
What possible reason could a Rauxmisto have for wanting to boost the number of speakers of Esperanto from a few hundred thousand to fifty million, or two hundred and fifty million.

"We aim to spread Esperanto in order to realize, more and more, little by little, its positive values:
1. a step to instruction of other languages;
2. contact between ordinary people;
3. contact without discrimination;
4. a new type of international culture.

Linked with the last value, we emphasize that the search for identity causes us to conceive of Esperantism [the actual word is "Esperantisteco", Esperantist-ity] as the state of belonging to a self-selected minority language diaspora. We can only increase our power and bring in new people on the condition that we understand these values."

Now my opinion: I don't think anyone has ever criticized Esperanto speakers for not taking themselves seriously enough.

IMO, the desire to be "normal" is the strongest possible expression of a sense of inferiority regarding the ways that you are not normal. If you feel very abnormal and inferior as a result, then you're usually going to try as hard as possible to look normal. This people-pleasing effort usually backfires. In most of the world, people are a lot less self-conscious about the things that we are all self-conscious about... so the world ends up seeing us as a bunch of neurotic cannibals.

The only solution is to embrace the fact that we're weird and be proud of it. Why don't we just learn Klingon? Because we don't want to settle for third best, that's why. Esperanto is not a constructed language; it's THE constructed language.

leporinjo:IMO, the desire to be "normal" is the strongest possible expression of a sense of inferiority regarding the ways that you are not normal. If you feel very abnormal and inferior as a result, then you're usually going to try as hard as possible to look normal.

Oh. Maybe this explains the hunger that some Esperantists have for government recognition. Leporinjo, your comments on the history of the movement and on human psychology are very interesting and I will enjoy contemplating them for several hours if not days. Thanks!

Further, the fact that people feel the need to point out the prevalence of leftists and "weirdos" who speak Esperanto demonstrates the greatest possible sense of abnormality among such people. No one would ever say that the prevalence of leftists detracts from the English language. Why? Because English is just a normal language, so of course leftists speak it (along with everyone else). But Esperanto must somehow be different- it must be something other than a language- if its speakers can detract from it somehow.

sudanglo:It is one of the aims of the Esperantist movement that the learning and speaking of Esperanto should not be considered weird, but something of quite ordinary utility. .

sudanglo:This is not an aim, mutatis mutandi, of the devotees of, for example, Klingon.

Klingon is edutainment hobby which is fine for those who like it. Esperanto also can be edutainment. But contrary to Klingon someones can speak Esperanto without to salivate others. Klingon is intented to be weird through its difficult pronouncation. Its quite simple to show that Esperanto and Klingon are of different (sub)culture category. Simply let run some pronouncation excamples which let drop the axe very sharp between Esperanto and Klingon. So, learn some Klingon phrases to convince instantly everybody that Esperanto and Klingon are no way same category.

leporinjo:The only solution is to embrace the fact that we're weird and be proud of it.

Lot supporter of subcultures i.e Punk, Ska, Jazz etc. subcultures have the same philosophy. They also often show that internal philosophy with carry of same or similar 'uniform' hairstyles and clothes.

leporinjo:Why don't we just learn Klingon? Because we don't want to settle for third best, that's why. Esperanto is not a constructed language; it's THE constructed language.

Nope. Esperanto is constructed language inter others. Act like what Esperanto community propagate itself: tolerance and respect to other (conlang) language communities even if they are micro-communities.

sudanglo:The essential feature of Rauxmismo, that the role of the Esperanto be redefined and its original raison d'être be abandoned, traps the Rauxmistoj into being grouped with the rest of the weirdos that spend time learning constructed languages.

Esperanto is not outstanding. Esperanto remains to be constructed language. To what less more abstract than personal pride which is okay but you feel non-comfortable?

sudanglo:What possible reason could a Rauxmisto have for wanting to boost the number of speakers of Esperanto from a few hundred thousand to fifty million, or two hundred and fifty million.

How I understand that matter: an Raumisto tries to magnetize new supporters. New supporter can and will magnetize and de-magnetize itselves by full own will. Contrary an Finvenkisto tries to pocket in full new supporters like an 'innocent fish'. That of course could provoke ugly f-word refusal and damage of brand name Esperanto. An finvenkisto often acts like an 'fanatic' idealist. People like to have alternatives. Finvenkistoj don't let them room for alternatives.

As a weird leftist, I can't help but posit that perhaps Esperantists are thought of as "weird"/"abnormal" or far-to-the-left because of the way Esperanto simplifies communication. Simple, clear and precise communication is the best possible defense against fascism. Maybe that's why you always have these sorts of debates in the English forum- if you tried to word them in Esperanto, they would be seen immediately for how absurd they are.

The way Esperanto eliminates the barriers of communication between cultures and allows everyone to talk on an equal level is the reason a "Fina Venko" is extremely, extremely unlikely. No modern state actually wants that- at least not one with any power.

leporinjo, please stop further ultra-position Antifa propaganda. There are no Golden Dawn or whatever folks around to need position against. Lernu.net seems to be liberal forum.

Spreecamper - Chrysi Avgi may be used in German but not in English. I had to Google it. In English, we use "Golden Dawn". I appreciate your attempts to write in English but it takes me a long time to understand fully what you want to say. I really don't mean this in any way to slight you but your texts attest fully to the difficulties in writing in a language in the society of which you do not live. I will admit, that even though I first spoke German in life and not English, the Chrysi Avgi issue would have tripped me up in German. I no longer read Die Tageszeitung since they want people to pay in Euro for it. I do watch Deutsche Welle news in German often but since I don't live in Europe (unfortunately) I am sort of out of touch with Europe's linguistic usages and mores.
Then the problem remains of how to express oneself in Esperanto. Ah, what luck for Google! There I found: Ora Tagiĝo, greke Χρυσή Αυγή [ĥrisi avgi]
In a way, however, I do agree with leporinjo. Maybe we see things from these shores of the Atlantic. Even though I live in a wonderfully multilingual region, some of the people here resent it. Recently, I attended a meeting in which an organization named Latinos Salud was trying to present itself to a larger audience. Some of the audience reacted with indignation saying things like: "We live in America (sic), why should we try to understand Spanish-speaking culture?" If these people disdain Spanish (a very useful trade language in our region and one that gives us a very rich culture from day to day) how would they react to Esperanto? I tried to support the ideas set forth by Latinos Salud and got some dirty looks from these people. I didn't stick around after the meeting but left somewhat sad and discouraged. Kopf hoch! (Keep your head up!) And insist that your elected officials speak German in public and not the gibberish I hear on Deutsche Welle. They sound much more elegant in their mother tongue than in their weak attempts to speak (British) English.