Why do intolerant people think others should tolerate their intolerance?

by Stableboy on March 28th, 2007

This is a very interesting question!

Intolerance is basically rooted in absolutism: the notion that a belief, idea, or concept can "hold" absolute truth. Absolutism turns into intolerance when the individual or group defines their identity in terms of said idea(s), which then turns the idea into a Sacred Cow which must be protected and promoted with all the fury and energy one would use to protect their own life.

Opposing views become not just alternative or possibly less-accurate models, they become the Spawn of the Devil Himself, and great self-righteousness emerges to purge the foul falsehood from the Earth.

So basically, a person who's fallen into this trap is blind to everything except the survival of their viewpoint, which accounts for failing to notice the irony that they're asking others to tolerate their intolerance. It would be funny if it weren't so close to the source of the violence, cruelty, and divisiveness that makes the world a dangerous place.

Comments

*bows down to The Guru*
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by PrettyPirate on March 28th, 2007
Thanks, PP... however, I have to start doing more to discourage this kind of guru stuff... I know it's joking, but I'm finding more and more people who are taking aim at me personally because of this perception, rather than interacting with whatever I'm saying. I'm starting to get a little paranoid, actually.
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by Stableboy on March 28th, 2007
Really? I'm so sorry. You're right, I was just joking, but I'm sorry if it's caused any hassles for you. It won't happen again.
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by PrettyPirate on March 28th, 2007
Well it's a tricky thing for me: obviously I appreciate positive comments like anybody, but there's sort of an "SB cult" that is really a shared joke, and that's spawned a kind of "anti-SB cult" with less of a sense of humor -- as such things tend to do I suppose. So I'd like to deflate the cult joke without being rude or making people think I don't appreciate their positive feedback. Thanks for understanding.
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by Stableboy on March 28th, 2007
No worries :) I completely understand.
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by PrettyPirate on March 28th, 2007