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MartinII · 70-79, M
It's an interesting thought. I have tended to take the view that tolerance, though a virtue, is an overrated one, and that some kinds of behaviour ought not to be tolerated. On the other hand, we surely all see things every day which we don't particularly like, but nevertheless put up with. It would be a very disputatious society if we didn't. And surely we should tolerate opinions we don't like, even if we don't tolerate actions. In that respect, I think Britain has become a less tolerant country than it was when I was younger.
SW-User
@MartinII The thing is, people who claim that we are a tolerant country are the same ones who are also afraid of becoming a minority in their own country. To me, that says "I don't like the fact that there are so many non-whites in this country. But we tolerate them".
This says to me that we shouldn't be calling ourselves tolerant. That means people are not happy to live with people who aren't white. But they tolerate them.
P.S. My gf is Kenyan.
This says to me that we shouldn't be calling ourselves tolerant. That means people are not happy to live with people who aren't white. But they tolerate them.
P.S. My gf is Kenyan.
MartinII · 70-79, M
@SW-User That seems to me quite wrong. In the example you describe, surely tolerating something one doesn't like is far preferable to not tolerating it. And what on earth is the relevance of your wife's nationality?
SW-User
@MartinII
To be honest, I'm not sure what sort of society we can call ourselves, but tolerant isn't it. Tolerance simply says you resent people for whatever reason, but you have to put up with them.
The disgusting scenes we've seen across the UK this weekend, based entirely on a piece of misinformation, subtly promoted by Nigel Farage, shows that we are not even close to being a tolerant society, even in the strictest sense of the word.
And what on earth is the relevance of your wife's nationality?
I've already been called a racist, with no evidence. I thought you were on the verge of calling me a racist too.To be honest, I'm not sure what sort of society we can call ourselves, but tolerant isn't it. Tolerance simply says you resent people for whatever reason, but you have to put up with them.
The disgusting scenes we've seen across the UK this weekend, based entirely on a piece of misinformation, subtly promoted by Nigel Farage, shows that we are not even close to being a tolerant society, even in the strictest sense of the word.
MartinII · 70-79, M
@SW-User I certainly wouldn't call you, or think you, a racist. But it's a mistake to think that the weekend violence was based solely on misinformation about the Southport murderer. Yes, that triggered the riots and was exploited by right-wing activists. But there is also a legitimate underlying concern about Islamist influence and double standards in policing. The authorities have gleefully described the riots as being led by the far right, and that seems to have been an accurate description. But when did we last hear of a demonstration led by the far left, even though such demonstrations happen every Saturday in London?