Some people like to use the term "far-left" to mean "far-left of me", without acknowledging that they're nowhere near the center themselves.

In fairness, people do the same thing with "far right". I've met some people who would likely characterize President Obama as far right.

This particular pathology seems to arise from the idea that "far $TYPE" is inherently de-legitmizing. And once you've de-legitimized someone or some position, you don't actually have to take them seriously, so...