Is it hypocritical to be intolerant of intolerance? That's the way I feel about gay marriage.

[Cant trust em]

Part of what makes me a liberal is my belief in pluralism. I thoroughly believe that each person’s ideas are valid and though we may disagree, to be tolerant of those ideas. Somehow I draw the line at those who oppose gay marriage. I cannot listen to someone who believes that our gay brothers and sisters are not deserving of the same rights and privileges that straight people hold. I just want these bigots to shut up and go away. I will not respect their point of view. Does this make me a hypocrite? They are fundamentally unjust and we have nothing left to discuss.

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Sometimes I absolutely detest the word "tolerance."

It's a huge issue within Unitarian Universalist circles. There is an alternative to both dogmatism and relativism. Basic human respect is a good place to start. Committed relativism allows for a range of healthy choices in human relations, but recognizes there are also unhealthy choices. I would say that religious dogmatism abridging the civil rights of a group of citizens because of their sexual orientation is an unhealthy choice and there is absolutely no reason it should be "tolerated."

Someone wants to tell me that two consenting adults should not have the same legal right to marry as me and my husband simply because they are the same gender? Nope, not gonna listen. Don't have a leg to stand on.

[Chulanowa]

2. It's never wrong to be intolerant towards those who express hate

One of our primary goals in life is to be just at all times. "Just" is not always the same thing as "fair" and not all speech is equal. A person can hate whoever htye want, for whatever reasons they want. but they have absolutely no right to attack the object of their hate, or to attack others by proxy with it.

[murielm99]

4. I've been struggling with this, too.

I don't want to hate anyone. It takes up too much energy and time. It is worse for my health than theirs.

I don't want to despise any religious, racial or ethnic group simply for existing. But I am having a hard time not hating Mormons.

[Chulanowa]

5. Honestly I gave up on Mormons years ago

I don't hate them, but I do willfully distance myself. I regard it as being in the best interests of all involved to do so. One rude-ass and belligerent missionary too many. Tag that on with the Church's awful mangling of my people's history and now, of course, the Prop 8 shit, and... Yeah. I don't hate them, but I try to avoid opportunities for conflict with them.

[keepCAblue]

3. You're not a hypocrite. I feel the same intolerance toward racists and misogynists. n/t

[Ohio Joe]

6. No

Because you are not being intolerant of intolerance. You are being intolerant of those that wish to deny civil rights to all. Anyone that does not desire equal rights for everyone NOW, NOT LATER is simply a criminal in my mind.

[NMMNG]

7. Not at all

We have every right to not tolerate the intolerant.

[DarkTirade]

8. If their intolerance infringes upon the rights of others... no, its not hypocritical.

[moose65]

9. Here's the difference for me......

We disagree with right-wing ideology all the time, and they accuse us of being "intolerant." I don't think they understand the word. We aren't trying to pass laws against them or take away their civil rights. We just don't agree with them and we call them on it as we see fit. I could take their intolerance better if they weren't trying to legislate against the people they disagree with. Respecting someone's right to their opinion (something I think we all do) doesn't mean we have to validate that opinion. This is the example I always give: I absolutely despise coconut, and I let all my friends know it when they eat it or offer me something with coconut in it. Am I being intolerant of coconut-lovers? Not at all. They can eat all of the nasty stuff they want! As long as they don't try to MAKE me eat it, it's fine with me. And, I'm not trying to get coconut outlawed for everyone just because *I* don't like it. THAT would be intolerant.

[DarkTirade]

10. Exactly.