I am not tolerant

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Today, the adjective "tolerant" is usually meant as a compliment -- in much the same vein as "sensitive". When someone describes me as "tolerant", I am quick to correct them. Here's why.

More diaries by donkpunch

I am not a tolerant person. I hope I am never described as tolerant. "Tolerant" is a word used by the compassion-and-sensitivity crowd to describe anyone outside their clique who doesn't actually practice the hatred they are stereotypically assumed to possess.

By definition, a "tolerant" person tolerates other people. I have huge problems with this whole notion.

tol·er·ate (tl-rt)
tr.v. tol·er·at·ed, tol·er·at·ing, tol·er·ates
1. To allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit.

2. To recognize and respect (the rights, beliefs, or practices of others).

3. To put up with; endure.

None of those definitions fit me. I don't "tolerate" other human beings. Who am I to "allow" or "permit" them to have a particular set of beliefs or sexual preferences? Nor do I "put up with; endure" other human beings any more than they "put up with; endure" me.

The word implies a degree of personal judgmentalism and superiority I find quite foreign.

For me to be "tolerant" of others implies (1) I find them somehow morally inferior to me and (2) that I even care. Neither of these are true.

In short, I am not presumptious enough to be tolerant. Indeed, those who would describe me as "tolerant" are actually insulting me and demonstrating their own intolerance for beliefs contrary to their own. They might as well say, "My, you are open-minded for a Nazi."

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	As Acceleration Approaches Platinum Levels (none / 0) (#1)
	by sventhatcher on Fri Jul 20th, 2001 at 03:22:59 PM PST

	I think we've already established that basically everyone in existence is a Nazi in disguie except for me and possibly seventypercent. You may not realize that you're a Nazi, but the urges are there. You probably just commit genocide while sleepwalking or something to keep your fragile mind safe. Therefore, the word tolerant is completely relevant to you. Although, you're not really tolerant. Your alter-Nazi-ego just allows you to think you are. --Sven (now with bonus weblog vanity site! (MLP sold seperately))

	Oh please (none / 0) (#2)
	by Anonymous Reader on Fri Jul 20th, 2001 at 03:51:50 PM PST

	Your intolerance towards intolerant Nazis is intolerable. After all, the SS are people too...

	The Death of an Asteroid Salesman (5.00 / 1) (#3)
	by sventhatcher on Fri Jul 20th, 2001 at 04:41:27 PM PST

	The SS are not actually people, not living ones anyway. As it turns out, Hitler was known to dabble in the occult arts. His SS were actualy reanimated zombies of the very Jews he killed. He found it amusing to torture them even after their own demise by forcing their bodies to do his bidding and destroy other of their kind. It's kinda ironic that Jews unwillingly caused the Holocaust. --Sven (now with bonus weblog vanity site! (MLP sold seperately))

	Hehe (none / 0) (#4)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Jul 21st, 2001 at 12:07:56 PM PST

	You've been to the Return to Castle Wolfenstein website lately, haven't you?