"You're not REALLY tolerant".

[The Shadow]

I've encountered this a couple of times, and I'm sure some of you who identify as politically liberal, left-leaning progressive or whatever probably have as well...

I get into a discussion with someone whose views are more conservative than mine. As an argument develops, the person invariably says something that exposes him or her as bigoted in some way, and if I call them on it...they not only play the victim card, they play the hypocrite card as well. ie; "You liberals claim to be all about diversity and tolerance, and yet you're intolerant of any view that's different from your own. It just goes to show that you're not really as tolerant as you claim to be huh?"

Besides being emotionally manipulative, I have to ask...should the idea of tolerance necessarily extend to tolerance of people who have ideas and opinions that show they believe certain people are deserving of less rights and freedoms than others? I say no, and not just because it's an anathema to me personally, but saying something like "gays and lesbians shouldn't be allowed to get married" is more than just a belief or opinion...it's an idea that has real consequences for many people. I can think of a number of other variants that have the same effect?

Just how broad should the concept of tolerance be?

[jackfaire]

You are tolerant your tolerant of people to live their lives as they see fit. However they are not. You are very tolerant of them to pack up and move to a place where they can avoid the people they don't like but your intolerant of their ability to ruin the lives of other people.

People seem to assume that if your not tolerant of everything you can't be tolerant of one thing.

[XCashier]

I get into a discussion with someone whose views are more conservative than mine. As an argument develops, the person invariably says something that exposes him or her as bigoted in some way, and if I call them on it...they not only play the victim card, they play the hypocrite card as well. ie; "You liberals claim to be all about diversity and tolerance, and yet you're intolerant of any view that's different from your own. It just goes to show that you're not really as tolerant as you claim to be huh?"

That's a straw man arguement on their part.

People seem to assume that if your not tolerant of everything you can't be tolerant of one thing.

I don't think it's even possible to be tolerant of everything.

I've spoken of my aunt, the one who hates President Obama simply because he's black. I've asked her to stop sending me her anti-Obama e-mails, and she has ignored that request. I'm sick of hearing about every little misstep the Obamas make. Does not tolerating her intolerance make me "intolerant"?

[smileyeagle1021]

I'm pretty sure there is a famous quote out there somewhere about how tolerance of intolerance is no different than intolerance.

My favorite response to the argument that I am intolerant of the conservative viewpoint is "my intolerance of your view has no effect on you than me disagreeing... your intolerance of my very living affects what should be my constitutionally guaranteed rights... who's intolerance does more damage?"

[Fryk]

I'm pretty sure there is a famous quote out there somewhere about how tolerance of intolerance is no different than intolerance."

I like that thought. It all boils down to basic algebra. A positive times a negative is a negative.

[Boozy]

That's a straw man arguement on their part.

Exactly, and here's why:

Most people do not claim to be tolerant of every behaviour. The word "tolerance" as used as a social manifesto means accepting people for the things that they cannot change, or personal choices that do not affect others.

For example, religious beliefs should be tolerated, except when those beliefs spread hatred or violence. If someone wants to believe in Christ, that is acceptable. If someone wants to discriminate against others in the name of Christ, that is unacceptable.

Personally, I do no like that word "tolerance" because it implies that I am simply putting up with people. For example, I am not "tolerant" of gay people. I am accepting of them.

[Rapscallion]

So, a question for the tolerant people out there.

Do you tolerate paedophiles? Nazis?

Short version is that there are limits to even true tolerance. The world has far too many extremes. It's all about where you draw the line.

Rapscallion

[BroomJockey]

Do you tolerate paedophiles? Nazis?

Paedophiles? Yes. I tolerate them. I'm not particularly accepting, but fine. Child molesters are a different story.

Nazis? Well, not particularly, though there aren't many who directly claim to be Nazis anymore. Most go by "white supremist." Does thinking they're idiots count as being tolerant?

[guywithashovel]

I don't consider myself liberal. However, I have taken that Political Compass test a few times, and it usually puts me slightly left and very strong in the libertarian camp. I see many people online cite that as an example of their political leanings, so I guess it must be pretty reliable.

In spite of this, I actually have several conservative viewpoints. I tend to be kind of traditional when it comes to marriage and family issues, even though I do support same sex marriage. (Though I don't favor using the government to impose my values on others.) Even though I favor either a single payer health care system or a government-run system, I'm still pretty fiscally conservative in terms of spending and taxation. I'm usually pretty supportive of gun rights, too. But I digress.

When some hardcore right-winger accuses someone of "not really being tolerant," I think it's usually a combination of two things. One, they're bitter over the fact that they are out of power right now, probably for a long time if not for good. Second of all, it's probably a case of projection---i.e., them seeing or trying to see their own faults in other people. When you get past all denial, most hardcore right-wingers are bigoted. There probably are exceptions, but most of them would rather that people who aren't white, heterosexual, part of their religion, etc. would leave society. There is a reason why so many of them reminisce the 1950s so strongly. Back then, women were seen a property. Non-whites were swept under the rug as well as possible and treated like dirt.

With this having been said, I would like to point out that I tend to dislike extremists on ALL parts of the political spectrum. I tend to find rabid liberals, libertarians, anarchists, etc. every bit as annoying as the hardcore right-wingers.