Most of us take pride in our tolerance and acceptance.
But is it justified?

Listening to people who've experienced prejudice shows
that perhaps - we have a long way to go in our society
in terms of tolerance. Suppressing certain opinions because
we're not comfortable with them through attempted slurs,
labelling, and shaming, is degrading.

People hold different values for a variety of reasons.
On this discussion forum and in our society in general,
people hail from a myriad of backgrounds, ethnicities,
and family structures. As a result they also usually
think differently. We should not make the assumption
that we all grew up in the same bubble.

We should be celebrating diversity of thought in the same
way we can celebrate all other forms of diversity.

Sharing unique experiences and offering varying viewpoints
can only strengthen a community more.

Who would want only one homogeneous school, university,
or discussion forum where nobody questions and everyone
accepts one ideology?

Apparently some do and we have a long way to go in terms of
tolerance in our society.

Surely through accepting and debating from an equal standing
we can do much better and learn even more than we already do.
We can - Progressives and Conservatives alike stand to
benefit.

Discuss.

Dear Foxy,

«we have a long way to go in our society
in terms of tolerance.»

There will always be more tolerant and less tolerant people around because being tolerant or otherwise is not a societal thing, but a feature of one's personal/spiritual journey.

We all start off as extremely tolerant because we are naive and apathetic. As we develop a strong independent "identity" we then turn to be intolerant to that which opposes it, then finally as we expand and realise that all is God, that there is nothing but God, thus nothing happens against His will, we become tolerant again.

Tolerance! That's rich, coming from a person who nags anyone who holds views different from hers, and keeps nagging as long as they keep posting. When she runs out of waffle, she deems anyone who stands up to her to be 'toxic' 'little', and only worthy of being ignored. She thinks everything that is said is directed at her, even when it isn't, and she thinks that the rest of us are quivering in anticipation of her latest pronouncements. Intolerant, and intolerable.

Hi Foxy,
I think it depends on the context.
- There's pro's and con's to everything.

What if I started a thread to match yours equally based on 'intolerance'?
We could easily compile a huge list of things that we refuse to tolerate.

And tolerance isn't the only virtue, we've all got google at our fingertips.
- All I have to do is type in virtues, and I get a whole list:

Acceptance Assertiveness Authenticity Beauty Caring Cleanliness
Commitment Compassion Confidence Consideration Contentment
Cooperation Courage Creativity Detachment Determination Dignity
Encouragement Enthusiasm Ethical Excellence Fairness Faith
Flexibility Forgiveness Friendliness Generosity Gentleness
Graciousness Gratitude Harmonious Helpfulness Honesty Honor
Hope Humility Idealism Integrity Imaginative Joyfulness Justice
Kindness Love Loyalty Moderation Modesty Optimistic Orderliness
Passionate Patience Peace Perseverance Preparedness Purposefulness
Reliability Respect Responsibility Reverence Self-discipline
Service Sincerity Tact Temperate Tenacious Thankfulness Tolerance
Trust Truthfulness Understanding Unity Visionary Wisdom Wonder

And just as I gave an example of 'intolerance' being the opposite of 'tolerance'
- Maybe we should look at virtues AND what seems to be the opposite of them.

- Virtue Signalling -

'The action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.'
"It's noticeable how often virtue signalling consists of saying you hate things."

It seems to me that people these days are just as much opposed to virtues or good values
- As they are for them.

Everyone seems to compete in a battle for moral superiority,
- and at the same time - no-one likes being told.

"Sharing unique experiences and offering varying viewpoints
can only strengthen a community more."

Yes I agree. Whenever I hear someone tell us that the Nazis were right to target the Jews, I marvel at how that "varying viewpoint" as to the past, has "strengthened" our community.

"Who would want only one homogeneous school, university,
or discussion forum where nobody questions and everyone
accepts one ideology?"

I think there's a false binary there. Its not one or the other. It is possible to be intolerant of SOME 'diversity' without opposing all diverse views.

It is up to each one of us to decide what we will or will not tolerate; not anyone else - particularly a person who, just a short while ago, demonstrated her own intolerance.

If we all stuck to opining on a subject presented, and not on the opinions of those we disagree with, things would much more pleasant.