Are you tolerant or bigoted?
By penstripes
@penstripes (42)
Philippines
October 13, 2010 4:31pm CST
According to American Heritage Dictionary, tolerance is "the capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs and practices of others" while bigotry is "the attitude, state of mind, or behavior characteristics of a bigot" or of someone who is "strongly being partial to one's own group, religion, race or politics and is intolerant of those who differ." Based on these definitions, what are you? Are you tolerant or bigoted?
3 responses
@marguicha (222142)
• Chile
14 Oct 10
I think that I have always been tolerant. That was taught to me since I was a baby so it´s not a developed trait. I think all people have right to respect, no matter what race, belief, gender and so on.
Idon´t mix with everyone with the same happiness though. I don´t particulary like bigoted people so I tend to stay away from them. Nothing that I can say will change what they think so why bother?
Still, at big parties at my house, I have some people who sometimes are strongly partial of their own beliefs. They have other things I like in them and they know that, at my house, they have to behave.
@penstripes (42)
• Philippines
15 Oct 10
Same with me. Although I could be a Roman in Rome and a Phonecian in Carthage when the situation requires it, I almost always stay around like-minded people. I consider myself tolerant not because I have no biases of my own. But because I never impose my own biases on others. I will always share what I think, especially when I am ask to, but I will never force my thoughts and even my conviction on people. That's just how I deal with the world....
@marguicha (222142)
• Chile
15 Oct 10
Tolerance and respect would help us live happier, I´m sure. If it works with a few people (as with our aquaintances) I don´t know why it would not work with bigger groups.
@misalax (307)
• Ireland
14 Oct 10
I'm more of a tolerant person, sometimes getting to the point where I get abused for it. Like, people asking favours and me just accepting all and stuff, people tend to get a hang of it without them realising that they're abusing other people already. Oh well, they'd realise when I burst. lol.
@penstripes (42)
• Philippines
15 Oct 10
That's unfortunate but in this world there are always those who takes advantage of the goodness and kindness of others. It is their loss, however, to keep doing what they are doing. Because in the end, they will also reap what they sow. And nothing good comes out of doing something that isn't right!
1 person likes this
@afarrell1 (258)
• United States
13 Oct 10
I guess I'm a tolerant bigot? I am partial to my own beliefs, but I can recognize and respect other people's beliefs too. If I am invited to an event in a bar because I have friends who are not christian and they are holding something - say a birthday party - at a bar then I will attend and not insult or make fun of the drunks who are there; but I'd rather not be in the bar at all and if given my choice between going to the party at the bar or going to church, I would rather go to church where people are of the same mindset as myself. Does that make me a bigot?
@penstripes (42)
• Philippines
15 Oct 10
I don't think so. Bigotry thrives on hatred while tolerance thrives on understanding and respect of fellowmen. If you have the latter, it is quite impossible to embrace the former...
