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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage

Newbie antonym question

Hello, everyone-
I have spent the day seeking a one word antonym for the noun " choice." The paradigm of "choice" I have in mind is binary, forced choice such as that faced by the protaganist in "Sophie's Choice." I'm thinking about a situation where there is only one action to take; no other actions ( or inactions) are possible. Another example would be that of a condemned man "choosing'" to walk to his execution chamber.
I am engaged with a group of people whose collective psychological need expresses itself as an unshakeable conviction that in fact, Sophie made a "choice," when common sense and context clearly demonstrate that she had no freedom to "choose." The word "choice" seems to me to be completely inappropriate, since the conditions for choice ( ie, freedom and viable alternatives) are missing from the context. This crowd ramapages on with an extreme view of personal responsibiity which asserts that eveything everything in life is a "choice'" and there is nothing else. An extreme example of this would be the assertion that the people who died on 911 were not victims since they chose to go to work in the Twn Towers that day.

Any input appreciated. Am I posting to the correct group or would this question be more appropriate on one of the psych grops? Emotion: wink
Thank you
  

Top answer

" The paradigm of "choice" I ... or inactions) are possible. [/nq] It's not an antonym, but how about Hobson's choice?

  • " The paradigm of "choice" I ...
  • or inactions) are possible.
  • [/nq] It's not an antonym, but how about Hobson's choice?
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9 Answers
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[nq:1]I have spent the day seeking a one word antonym for the noun " choice." The paradigm of "choice" I ... or inactions) are possible. Another example would be that of a condemned man "choosing'" to walk to his execution chamber.[/nq]
It's not an antonym, but how about Hobson's choice?

Main Entry: Hob·son's choice
Pronunciation: häb-snz-
Function: noun
Etymology: Thomas
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[nq:1]It's not an antonym, but how about Hobson's choice? Main Entry: Hobson's choice Pronunciation: hob-snz- Function: noun Etymology: Thomas Hobson ... when there is no real alternative 2 : the necessity of accepting one of two or more equally objectionable alternatives[/nq]
Didn't Sophie have to choose betwen her children? If so, it fits definition 2. The condemmed man would fit definition
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[nq:1]Didn't Sophie have to choose betwen her children?[/nq]
Yes. I can't think about that story for very long. The choice she had to make is too horrifying to me.

Dena Jo
Delete "delete.this.for.email" for email.
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[nq:1]Hello, everyone- I have spent the day seeking a one word antonym for the noun " choice." The paradigm of ... or inactions) are possible. Another example would be that of a condemned man "choosing'" to walk to his execution chamber.[/nq]
Could 'fate' be used? Not an antonym, but I think it fits. ...
[nq:1]Any input appreciated. Am I posting to the correct group or would this question
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Dena Jo typed thus:
[nq:2]I have spent the day seeking a one word antonym ... a condemned man "choosing'" to walk to his execution chamber.[/nq]
[nq:1]It's not an antonym, but how about Hobson's choice?[/nq]
It might be a near-antonym, but yonder OP asked for a single word. There, I get stuck.

David the pathologically literal
==
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[nq:1]It might be a near-antonym, but yonder OP asked for a single word. There, I get stuck.[/nq]
You and the rest of the newsgroup, it seems.
I settled for second best.

Dena Jo, who's surprised this question hasn't received more attention

Delete "delete.this.for.email" for email.
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[nq:2]It might be a near-antonym, but yonder OP asked for a single word. There, I get stuck.[/nq]
[nq:1]You and the rest of the newsgroup, it seems. I settled for second best.[/nq]
"Echo." Ask Barry Goldwater:
.

Okay, Goldwater's dead. But his slogan lives on.

Bob Lieblich
I thought first of Hobson's choice also
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[nq:1]Bob Lieblich I thought first of Hobson's choice also[/nq]
Great minds...

Dena Jo
Kiss, kiss
Delete "delete.this.for.email" for email.
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[nq:1]It might be, I don't know, but I think your question is the sort this group welcomes. Right up our alley. Have you got some more? Charles Riggs[/nq]
Hi everyone. Thank you for all the responses. I wasn't expecting so many replies, and so quickly, too. Things happen so fast on the Internet!

Is anyone else surprised that the English language does not contain a common word that emb

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