Tolerance = dangerous word

Gunhead · Post by **Gunhead** » 2005-02-08 07:11am

I hate the fucking word, tolerate. I don't tolerate gays. Why? There's nothing to tolerate. Gays are people, just like everybody else. What they do or don't do is their business. If that means they're happy, well good for them. We could all use a bit of that every now and then.
So yeah tolerance is a dangerous word because it automatically says there's something wrong with you and other people have to just suck it up. No amount of "tolerance" is going to make a lick of difference because it doesn't change attitudes.

Instead of tolerating gays we should say:" Fundie bigotry is something not to be tolerated."

-Gunhead

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2005-02-08 07:44am

In some cultures, people put themselves on fire to let the world know about their cause. A shame its not so widespread

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2005-02-08 10:07am

Sadly, while "tolerance" is a piss-poor substitute for understanding, it is still a huge step up from the status quo mentality in JesusLand.

Post by **Edi** » 2005-02-08 01:50pm

Darth Wong wrote:Sadly, while "tolerance" is a piss-poor substitute for understanding, it is still a huge step up from the status quo mentality in JesusLand.

I suppose the term we are looking for is "acceptance". As far as gay people are concerned, it is impossible for me to understand the attraction to members of their own sex, but them's the facts and I've no trouble accepting it. Much the same with certain other types of stuff. Religion and some other things are the kind of stuff that falls into the "tolerate" category for me as long as it's not actively shoved in my face.

Edi

Post by **Coyote** » 2005-02-08 03:24pm

At this point, mere "tolerance" is probably about all we can ask for/expect.

Damn, some time ago we had buttons on our night shift (I was night manager for a Kinko's Copies) that said "straight but not narrow", and upper management felt it 'could be seen as provocative' (ie, it's not our job to be political) so we couldn't wear them any more.

But if 'tolerating' gays means no lynchings/bashings, well, it's a step.

Pint0 Xtreme · Post by **Pint0 Xtreme** » 2005-02-08 07:11pm

What pisses me off most is that their contribution to the already homophobic environment is what causes the horrific suicide rates among gay teens. It's sickening to know that the fundies continually cite suicidal tendencies as a "symptom" of being gay without considering the fact that their attitudes are what causes it.