Tolerate intolerant?

[krisgil_aguila]

Tolerate intolerant?
why have to?
why don't?

***in my opinion, yes but with limit***

[lostworld]

It always hurts my heart when I see people being intolerant. It is possible to disagree without being hateful.

[blazeofglory]

It always hurts my heart when I see people being intolerant. It is possible to disagree without being hateful.

Wonderful ideas

[OrphanPip]

Some opinions should not be tolerated though, advocacy of direct violence is clearly intolerable.

[BienvenuJDC]

I would like to put forth some food for thought and discussion. There are at least two main things that one must consider. The degree of acceptance and the focus of the acceptance. The degrees of acceptance/rejection could be categorized in this way:

Abhorrence
Rejection
Indifference
Acceptance
Embrace
Adoration


The other consideration is the focus of the acceptance. One may reject, or even abhor, a concept or opinion, while still being tolerant and respectful of the individual or group of people. In fact, there are some cases (if not many cases) that one may strongly disagree and/or reject ones opinion, while still having love and adoration for the individual.

For any of us, it is important to be able to separate the idea/opinion from the individual. This is important for both sides of a controversial issue.

(example)
Mr. Blue possesses very strong feelings about GREEN even to a point of moral conviction. However, he is able to set his feelings aside for the sake of humanity. He invites Mr. Green to his house for a party. Since Mr. Green knows about Mr. Blue's convictions, it would be respectful for Mr. Green not to wear his favorite GREEN shirt to Mr Blue's house. The following week, Mr. Green invites Mr. Blue over for tea. Mr. Blue should be able to respect Mr. Green enough, not to make an issue of his GREEN table cloth.

I think that we all can submit ourselves to each other's ideas and opinions without compromising our own convictions.

[Lokasenna]

It has to be a mixture of give and take.

The other day I was having a debate with a gay friend about the Pope's imminent visit to the UK - he was of the opinion that the Pope should not be welcomed because of his stance on homosexuality and contraception. However, I suggested that by refusing the Pope, we would be discriminating against all the Catholic people in the country as well.

Basically, people should be allowed their views, so long as they are respectful in their delivery of them. Only by allowing free speech can we have communication.

[DanielBenoit]

My family (the ones I'm living with at least) are Christian fundamentalists and they all have ideas and opinions which really abhor or surprise me at times (homosexuality leads to serial killing, Obama may be the antichrist, the apocalypse is sure to come within the next few years, evolution is not true, the earth is 6,000 years old, etc.) and I've learned to tolerate them all, even to the point that they're even normal to me. But there still come times when they say the most absurd and ridiculous things that I feel so uncomfortable because I really want to object to what they're saying, though I never do because I know that debates are pointless and futile with them. For example, one time my dad was talking with his father-in-law (both of them very fundamentalist) about how most of the worst serial killers in history were gay, and how there is a correlation between the two. I felt so uncomfortable during that time and really wanted to leave because not only was it personally insulting (they don't know I'm bi) but also just ridiculously laughable.

Both ways, I must say that I'm quite used to being tolerant of other people since I've been around them for a good period of time. Even in an environment where I could speak my mind I would certainly object to things like anti-Darwinianism or simply just people who disagreed with my views on politics, that I would be able to stand easily. It's just when it comes to subjects of racism, sexism and homophobia that I feel obliged to just walk away or even get angry. There was a "friend" of mine whom I did't even like at all and he says the most hateful things about black people and hispanics, and I just felt like punching him in the face every time he did that.

So yeah, things like that I am unable to tolerate at all. There is a line that can be drawn.

[lostworld]

There is always a line...but sadly everyone seems to define it differently.

[JuniperWoolf]

My family (the ones I'm living with at least) are Christian fundamentalists and they all have ideas and opinions which really abhor or surprise me at times (homosexuality leads to serial killing, Obama may be the antichrist, the apocalypse is sure to come within the next few years, evolution is not true, the earth is 6,000 years old, etc.) and I've learned to tolerate them all, even to the point that they're even normal to me. But there still come times when they say the most absurd and ridiculous things that I feel so uncomfortable because I really want to object to what they're saying, though I never do because I know that debates are pointless and futile with them. For example, one time my dad was talking with his father-in-law (both of them very fundamentalist) about how most of the worst serial killers in history were gay, and how there is a correlation between the two. I felt so uncomfortable during that time and really wanted to leave because not only was it personally insulting (they don't know I'm bi) but also just ridiculously laughable.

Maybe in a weird way it's healthy for you. Your family helped to steel you, now I'm pretty sure that nothing a bigot is going to say to you on the street when you're older will shock you or cause you to lose your cool. I've gotten into trouble before because someone said something derogatory about women/natives/gays and I... well... went nuts. Sometimes the way that you react to their crap is more damaging to you than it is them.