RE: Atheist, i will leave my religion to mysif you let transsexuals leave their ideology
June 8, 2025 at 7:40 am
(June 8, 2025 at 7:29 am)Belacqua Wrote:(June 7, 2025 at 12:44 am)EthelMcKain Wrote: [...] Perhaps focusing on mutual tolerance and respect, without necessarily endorsing specific ideologies, would be a more productive approach?
This sounds like such a reasonable and temperate suggestion... it almost seems as though it comes from a different era.
It looks as if this and other issues are so polarizing that expressing any respect for the other side would be seen as insufficient commitment to what is Good and Right. Since we know what must be done, any tolerance for others merely hinders Progress.
They used to say that before any debate could begin, we should be able to express the other side's position in language that they would completely agree with. That is, not inherently foolish-looking. But that's not the way things are done anymore, apparently.
That only works when people are good-faith actors. When groups of people repeatedly lie about their opposition, you can't compromise with them. They are just trying to move the Overton Window in their favor by cheating. One example is climate change denial based on conspiracy theories.
In other words, if you are tolerant of the intolerant, you encourage intolerance.
Political polarization isn't an easy situation to address fairly, except by remaining honest.