Is tolerance a good thing?

1. 78

   calynbanaposted 10 years ago

   Is tolerance a good thing?

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   James-wolveposted 10 years ago

   Well,It is good in some circumstances and bad in other circumstances; much depends on the moral status of what is being tolerated and on whether what is being tolerated inherently requires intolerance of the opposite.
   I think there are three categories: things which should never be tolerated , things which should always be tolerated  and things that should be tolerated up to a point but not necessarily indefinite.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you James.

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      James-wolveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks CJ Sledgehammer.I see that on many issues we share the same opinion.You must be my twin:) Happy New Year.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      And funnily enough, I also agree with you James.

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      PlanksandNailsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      This  is agreeing to something that will never work.The problem is that when you actually make your list in each category you will have others who won't agree and want  to put into the other category.

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      James-wolveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don t classify people to US and THEY .Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day

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      PlanksandNailsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Diversity and  tolerance are two separate words with different meanings.

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      James-wolveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The second one i know it but what s the first one according to your dict?

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   kamel31posted 10 years ago

   I agree with previous answer in that tolerance is not a good or bad thing. Tolerance can bring good, or it could bring bad results, it depends on what is in your best interest, and/or your morality.
   
   Tolerating an oppressive person or culture never ends up good, maybe better or worse for you, but never "good". Tolerating the nose-picking manager of a fascinating project you are an apprentice for, and then getting full time access and an advancement beyond apprentice, would be a good thing. But of course, not tolerating him wouldn't be bad, it is just a matter of what your goal is. If you want to live in peace, don't tolerate belligerence, but the crotch-scratcher who minds their own business (too often you might think) can maybe be tolerated, or not.

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   JThomp42posted 10 years ago

   Yes, I would say it is a very good thing. The more you can tolerate, the less stressful your life will be.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hmmm.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agree with this too. Tolerance does give life a colourful hue

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   SidKempposted 10 years ago

   Tolerance usually refers to tolerating people who are different from ourselves, which I see as a good thing, but not the best thing.
   
   if we truly value the fundamental freedoms developed over the last 500 years in Western civilization and embodied in the American Constitution, then tolerance is a contemporary term for the personal act of supporting freedom of religion and freedom of speech. It can now be extended to the right to privacy and tolerance of personal choices that do not harm others. (That would include, for example, Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin tolerating homosexual people, and homosexuals tolerating Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin when they express their beliefs nonviolently.)
   
   We should separate tolerance of people from tolerating injustice and violence. Injustice and violence must be recognized (accepted as real), and yet not tolerated. Without violence, we should lead the way by example to end all such harmful ways of being.
   
   But tolerance is only a beginning. I encourage everyone to move beyond tolerating people who are different from who we are or who we want them to be. Instead, let's work on dropping our egos and so loving and understanding one another and celebrating our differences.

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      Moeskyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree - tolerance without effort made to understand doesn't always lead to better things (often just to frustration). Understanding is the key.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Understandably the best answer. I agree - tolerance is about moving beyond ourselves!

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   tussinposted 10 years ago

   Yes, up to a point.  But if you tolerate everything, especially people treating you badly all the time, then you will be miserable.
   
   You should tolerate things that do not affect you personally, like other people's religious beliefs or lifestyle.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      As "They" say..."If you stand for nothing - you will fall for anything."

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   edhanposted 10 years ago

   Yes.
   
   We have to learn about tolerance as it helps to build a better world where we are living. We have to acknowledge our differences and learn more about tolerance between one another.
   
   I believe it helps to have more tolerance and understanding to help us living in harmony.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agree.

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   CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years ago

   This may not the "Best Answer" but is the "Correct Answer". Tolerance is one's ability to put up with a specific behavior, stimuli, or event. It is, therefore, a measurement or barometer of one's endurance.
   
   In most cases where "toleranace" is preached...it is meant as a plea to accept immoral behaviors and societal evils as a new norm. I have seen many who preach tolerance, yet behave very intolerantly toward those who disagree with their opinion, lifestyle, or behavior.
   
   The reason why there is so much evil in the world today is because people tolerate it. As Samuel Johnson observed, "All it takes for evil to persist in this world is for a good man to do nothing."
   
   Being permissive is not a virtue and being tolerant of bad behaviors is neither ethical or moral. It would seem the new morality of the day has become the rejection of righteous judgment and the abandoment of moral principles.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      CJ - who died and made you King of All Correct Answers? Tolerance goes for you too - you are tolerated by many....some only just. Righteous judgement however is not yours to make. Tolerance is a show of character -  that you can look beyond yourself.

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      James-wolveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      jlpark, Cj  is a great mind.I agree with what he said here.I don t see him like that.

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      calynbanaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think along very similar lines as you on this issue CJ.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I see him for a great mind also - whether he is intolerant of certain things close to me or not. But do no appreciate the assumption that his God is the correct one for everyone. That is all

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I am not surprised that I struck a nerve, Jacqui. The principles that I live by are sent from above. You live for this world, but I live for the life to come. We are polar opposites...you live to serve your own interests while I live to serve God's.

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      James-wolveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      jlpark, His answer wasn t about the assumption of God.He was reasonable  and more  convincing

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Haha - proved a point. In a subtle way you are all asking me to tolerate him. Which is what I do anyway - I was merely proving a point - tolerance is a good thing.
      I know no one specifically asked for it but giving me reasons is a very subtle way!

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, James and Cayln...you are too kind.
      
      Jacqui: It's clear that you tolerate me out of necessity...not by choice. I don't hate you because you are a lesbian, but I do hate homosexuality and all that it stands for, because God hated it first.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      CJ - nope, by choice not necessity.  Necessity would mean you were family and I would have to tolerate you because of that.  I do it by choice.  When you aren't being rude you have interesting things to say.

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       CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       You consider me to be "rude" because the things I stand for do not appeal to your delicate sensibilities. In addition, the things that I say regarding your "lifestyle" are perceived to be a threat. I never try to be rude...but sometimes truth hurts.

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       jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       The things about me and my so called "lifestyle" are so old -  it's not me I'm talking about - i don't find you threatening.  I find it boring - it's been said and refuted time and time again - by religious folk as well. Its others you are rude to.

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       CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Naw...I just think you are being hyper-sensitive and so are the unmentionables. You have been rude to me and others have been downright nasty, but I never hear you rebuke them. No...the truth of the matter is the Word of God cuts like a knife.

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       jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       CJ - granted, maybe I have. And I apologise. And I will continue to rebuke anyone who is rude. The relationship we all have with our God(s) are personal ones - mine is personal as is yours so your relationship does not translate to being mine or v.v.

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       CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Jacqui:The comment you quoted was done with great taste (and a little humor) considering the vitriolic, sexist rant that was directed toward men. I am also sure you have seen flaming vitriol and chronic disrespect rendered toward the One I serve.

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       James-wolveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       The relationship that we have with  God is a personal thing in the spiritual sense,but it ceases to be so when we have to deal with others.

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   jlparkposted 10 years ago

   I believe in the interest of learning and understanding one another in this multi-everything world - yes, it's a good thing.We are a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-languaged, multi-orientated, multi-coloured world. We all have things that maybe someone (or several someone's) don't agree on, but we all have one thing in common - we are all human.
   
   Tolerance is not about accepting a behaviour that is damaging someone else who does not choose the behaviour being done to them - thats either passive, or abuse (depending on who YOU are in the situation - the 'victim' or the 'observer"). It is also different to ACCEPTANCE - tolerance is 'putting up with' where as acceptance is "embracing, if not for yourself, for someone you care about" in this instance.
   
   However, we all have a lot to learn about one another.  We have all seen the result of INTOLERANCE in several different places such as:
   - Nazi Germany - intolerance of anyone who did not fit the Aryan ideal - Jews, homosexuals, people with mental illness, disabilities
   - South Africa - Aparthide (sp?..not today!) - we are still seeing after affects of this.
   - America - Segregation
   - Ireland - Religious differences - and Catholics and Protestants worship the SAME God...and they still fight
   - Gaza/Iran/Iraq etc - Shiite and Suni Muslims - same Allah.
   - America AGAIN - Muslims and Christians
   - Uganda - "Kill the Gays Bill" 2012 (still a threat by the way)
   
   I am sure you will all agree that most of these you would wish to NEVER repeat.  Yes, I'm sure for some of you there are a few that you may even agree with and wish to repeat (Uganda etc for those with homosexuality issues, Segregation for those with colour/islam issues) - but you see, the world needs a few who think like that...it makes it interesting...and we tolerate you
   
   You do not have to partake, or believe it is right, to tolerate something.  To use the Christian Bible - Do Unto Others, as you would have them do unto you.
   Or the Pagan/Wiccan tenent - And If it harm none, do as ye will.
   
   What tolerance is for is to help us to understand and accept our differences and the diversity that this brings to life.  I have many friends from all walks of life, all religions, all races, all orientations, all sexual identities, all abilities.  My tolerance and acceptance (acceptance is DIFFERENT) of these people enriches my life everyday. And for that alone - I think tolerance is a good thing.

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      James-wolveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly.  Get out of each others faces helps with tolerance also.  No one likes having another opinion shoving their belief at you -regardless of what it is.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That sounds more like avoidance and less like tolerance, Jacqui.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I agree it does in a way.  But giving each other space to think about what the other has said, or done - helps.  Having it in your face the whole time just annoys you rather than encourages you to think about the diversity involved.

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      CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      This may shock you, Jacqui, but I do not endorse "diversity" for its own sake. Truth is, not every opinion is equal any more than all behaviors and beliefs are equal. The only way they can be equal is if discernment is not used in determining value.

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      jlparkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Nor do I - those things that harm others are less tolerable. However, your last statement is true - take away the determination of value - take off our religious or gay glasses and just look - the diversity in the world around us is actually amazing.

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      James-wolveposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      We are not playing tricks on your mind.It is true I agree with him on many issues but things for example like religious doctrine,we are pole s apart.After all,I respect him and I am not judgmental.

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    Vicky022389posted 10 years ago

    Of course, everyone has different beliefs and views and who is to say who is right or wrong? It's not fair to judge someone on their life, so tolerance is key.

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       CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       "who is to say who is right or wrong?" - Vicky
       
       This belief is the catalyst for moral relativism...the silent killer of every failing society. When everyone is their own god, making their own judgments, and following their own code...anarchy reigns.

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    PlanksandNailsposted 10 years ago

    Tolerance is a fallacy. It is accepting and not accepting at the same time. This is called a double standard. Accepting contradiction is lukewarmness at its best.
    
    The intolerant must be tolerant, but if your not, then the tolerant must become intolerant to make their point. It's self defeating.
    
    Is having a double standard a good thing?
    
    As CJ pointed out, "If you don't stand for something, then you will fall for anything."
    
    Tolerance is relative and falls for anything.

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       CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Good point, Planks. Tolerance is all about moral relativism and it cannot be achieved unless a society first abandons its righteous judgment and godly principles. Tolerance therefore, can only flourish in a world where all things are a shade of gray.

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       calynbanaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       This is a very good answer, strangely enough my husband was just talking about this very same idea last night haha

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       CJ Sledgehammerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       See...Caly...brilliant minds do think alike!!! :0)

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    cjpooja26posted 10 years ago

    Yes being a benevolent is a good thing,but there are very few people who can tolerate genuinely and you can live without tension.

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