Tolerance

[SnipErlite]

I have found that some people despise homophobes or whatever. And I think well, some of the 'evil' people were just brought up like that. If they lived in a society where they were taught that gay people were below them and stuff like that, then I do find it harder to criticize them. Racist or homophobic views that were said in the past are condemned today, yet that was just what people did. That was how people thought.

But I do think I'm fairly tolerant (although ofc I'm human and therefore have intolerance flaws, but hey)

 

[dietpeachsnapple]

Tolerance means you leave another person's beliefs alone. You do not seek to alter those beliefs, remove those beliefs, or target the person for having those beliefs.

I can generally agree with your sentiments above though it is worthy of further contemplation.

Your mother made mention of generational change. This is a historically observed trend that over time the values of a society drift towards liberality. I think your mother's statement of being UNABLE to judge your generation was very mature on her part. Though her entire raising informs her that homosexuality is unnatural, ours (or many of ours,) informs us that it is something seen through out society and nature.

As youth, we should embrace live and let live philosophies, ESPECIALLY when they are offered by the previous generation whom is seen, by some, as having the most to lose.

 

[jpakaferrari]

It is very difficult to consider yourself tolerant if you don't tolerate differences. I am personally going into school counseling and want to work in a urban setting (Washington DC). There are many diverse groups here whether racially, disabilities, culturally, or sexually. I am very good at keeping an open mind and being tolerant of people. In fact I find people from different backgrounds than my own exceedingly interesting. But we all have our prejudices and most of mine relate not to specific races or sexuality or whatever but to personalities and things. Not everyone can always get along but sometimes you learn a lot about people just by keeping an open mind for more than a second. You might even learn something good about yourself. Tolerance leads to learning.

 

[dietpeachsnapple]

I'm intolerant of those that are intolerant themselves out of hatred and ignorance.

How about those with a surly disposition? What if there is a calm intolerance found within a child? Perhaps a father that quietly explains to his sun that a certain pigmentation of skin is naturally inferior to their own pale complexion?

Ooh! What of those fine individuals who are intolerant out of love and knowledge?

"Your theory of negative reinforcement fails to take into account the effects of positively reinforced avoidance, the necessity for DRI to deter the continued behavior, and any functional analysis whatsoever within any portion of this research! You sir, have besmirched my love of psychology and I shall not tolerate this!"

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Gladion]

So I think when parents and older people say that, they're just using it as an excuse to avoid facing up to their own problems. I don't usually lay things down like absolutes, but I can firmly say that they are totally wrong and their opinion is dangerous and ignorant.

Overall, I agree that homophobia and such is dangerous, and that people should not be discriminated against based on their sexuality. What I'm saying is, if a person is brought up in a community where homosexuality is completely wrong and immoral, such as a deeply religious community, can you say that person is wrong for believing the only thing they've ever known in their life?

Actually yes - for the same reason I can blame the granny that lives next door for continuously insulting "this dirty, filthy jew-bunch". Yes, you were raised to think this, but are you really not capable of learning better over time? I'm not asking you to immediately change your mind. But that woman is now over 70 years old and most of the time she was not taught stuff like this.

Anyways, back to OT: I am absolutely tolerant, but only to people's characteristics and character, not to their opinions. Especially complaints. 80% of the time people tell their opinion I just think "please shut the fuck up, I don't want to hear your uninformed, baseless opinion, it's annoying".

 

[Azure-Supernova]

But then my parents came out about their views on homosexuality, and told me that despite saying they'd love me and my brother no matter what sexuality we were, in my mums words, "It's just not natural, is it?"

Now this is something I frequently hear from my dad and all of my grandparents. And being raised around these people, when I was a lot younger (right up until I was 12) I actually believed that too. Of course upon hitting 13 one of my friends came out to me and well I realised "He's the same guy I knew yesterday... hmmm" and began to rethink my outlook on it.

So, what do people think? Can you consider yourself a tolerant person if you do not tolerate those who disagree with equality?

I'd say I am quite a tolerant person, but there are some people who seem to break that almost instantly. And living in todays world you can see why. It's hard to judge, there are people who have been raised similarly to me and probably never had that moment of realisation I had, is that their fault? But then there are those who choose to be biots and downright racist assholes, I think it's fine that I don't tolerate them. Because they clearly don't want to be tolerated.

 

[Pimppeter2]

This doesn't make much sense.

(This post does not reflect my views)

What does belief in equality have to do with tolerance? I can be tolerant toward homosexuals, but think that they are inferior to me. I can accept them and let them live their lives the way they want, but why do I have to agree that they are equal to me?

I could believe that Atheists were wrong and inferior in the eyes of Deity X, but still tolerate them in society.

 

[xXErasmusXx]

I think that this topic really depends how a person approaches "absolute truth".

If there is a absolute right and wrong, then regardless of how one is raised, they should attempt to do right and be judged if they are intolerant.

If there is no absolute truth, then no one is "wrong", no opinion intolerant, the "intolerant" person is merely a product of factors outside their control.

I subscribe to the philosophy that there is absolute truth.

This actually reminds me of the female genital mutilation debate, whether it is harmful to women or not. Off to make a topic...

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Wouldn't universal tolerance require something akin to moral relativism?

I don't think it's wrong to have some standard as to what's right or wrong.

 

[The_ModeRazor]

Umm... I guess I'm somewhat intolerant.
But I'm honest. Or at least I try to be.

You know, people have these things called "experience" and "prejudice" and "emotions".
They greatly influence whatever the fuck we do (or say, or think), and very often in a completely illogical way.
Deal with it; you were born a human, you will die as one. (unless of course someone manages to transfer human consciousness into some kinda machine... that'd be awesome)

 

[Haunted Serenity]

Yeah i'm pretty tolerant of other people but i draw the line when something they do crosses the line into my beliefs. Some cultures believing that other ethenic groups or sexuality have no rights. I don't stand for that shit. thats just an example of it.

 

[ArcWinter]

I am not tolerant, because I do not like people who disagree with me, even on the smallest matter.

The good thing is, my views are usually very lenient.

The bad thing is, nobody else seems to agree.

But as a general rule, if it doesn't affect anyone else, go for it.

 

[Julianking93]

I really don't like the word tolerance. It implies that something irritates you yet you don't show it bothers you. People tend to use that word in place of love or acceptance. South Park had it right on that episode.

I prefer the phrase "I don't care" when someone has different views than me or is of different sexual orientation.

That being said, there are many things I can't stand and I show it. I'm intolerant of fundamentalists. I'm intolerant of traditionalists. Those are things I can't stand.

 

[JokerCrowe]

I think you should define "tolerate". Because seriously the only thing I can consider myself to be good at is that I'm extremely tolerant...
But to tolerate someone... I can live with people of a different oppinion. But I think that as long as you respect that someone has a different view on something, i think you're pretty tolerant. But definition wise I don't think you can call yourself tolerant if you can not tolerate people, even if their view of the world is seriously screwed up, (according to you)

 

['Aredor]

To quote Austrian philosopher Karl Popper (roughly translated): "In the name of tolerance, we should reserve for ourselves the right not to tolerate intolerance"

And I agree with that, it's not intolerant not to tolerate intolerance. Sounds like a paradox? Think of it this way: if you tolerate someone being intolerant towards others, you indulge him and thereby support him, becoming intolerant towards his "victims" as well. If, on the other hand, you side with the victim, you work against intolerance. Or, to put it another way: you can be intolerant towards the kind of intolerance that hurts other people and still be tolerant yourself.

As for the question whether we can blame people who are intolerant because of their upbringing: of course we can, because unless they are still a child, they have since become an independent individual capable of thought and compassion. It might be understandable if they have those views when they first come in contact with the subject at hand; but everyone who sticks to those sentiments once they've been pointed out as wrong to them can hardly point to their parents and say "it's their fault". After all, we hold people accountable for crimes they commit, even if their parents taught them it way alright to commit them.

 

[skitzo van]

I'm tolerant of everything except stupidity.

 

[Mcupobob]

I try as hard as a can to live by the creed of the wardering intelect, never act superior to anyone else, the knowledge you have is to build people up not tear them down.

 

[Beldaros]

Nobody can honestly say they are tolerant of everything.

I like to think that I am a tolerant person, I always try to look at things from other peoples perspective and to try to understand every plausible opinion and action, but there are still things that grate on me.... I always understnad where someone is coming form though even if I disagree and even if they are blatantly wrong. Yes most things in life are grey but some things are black and white, like (Insert name here) was (insert character here) in (Insert film here) eventhjough he looks like (Insert name here) Bad example but all I could think of off the top of my head.

So yeah, tolerant I think so but not entirely, I try to be though.

All ion all though this is all that matters; Be yourself no matter what the consequences.

 

[omega 616]

I hate it when people say things about judging people, I can and will judge every single person I meet and so will you.

It is a defense mechanism that we have developed, a favorite quote of mine is "there was a guy with a spear running at 3 people, the first person ran away, the second person fought, the third stood there ... he didn't live long enough to have kids"

We instinctively judge people as soon as we meet them and we all have opinions on everything.

What your mum said sounds a little profound and deep but it isn't, you have never met Hitler but I bet you judge him to be a pretty bad guy, same goes for any murderer, rapists, and kiddie fiddlers, you judge them without ever knowing them or there up bringing.

on topic, yes, I don't consider being tolerant to be tolerant to everything and every body. Like I said before would tolerate murders and rapists?