29-06-2010, 19:27
Grace I understand what you´re getting at, and I agree that this could be interpreted as another sort of intolerance, but there is always a fine line in these matters that you have to take into account. When you say that intolerance is not accepted, this could be taken to mean that you have to be tolerant of any other people´s views, even if they are being intolerant. But this is a very dangerous train of thought, because then that would mean that movements like for instance the nazis would have to be legalized, because after all their´s is just another point of view, right? So if someone was to found a nazi political party they would be allowed to do that. And then it would be impossible to prohibit their activity in harming other human beings.
So I think in this case there is a similarity, because even if we´re just writing our opinions and no one is going to send men with boobs to the gas chambers or whatever, it breeds an atmosphere that can ultimately be very harmful for others. If the opinion that others can be banned because they´re "different" is accepted, then the violent bullies will feel entitled to give them a beating for instance.
And even if this doesn´t happen - which only a very optimistic person would think - being called a freak or a pervert is just very painful, even if it is done in an anonymous forum.
So I think in this case there is a similarity, because even if we´re just writing our opinions and no one is going to send men with boobs to the gas chambers or whatever, it breeds an atmosphere that can ultimately be very harmful for others. If the opinion that others can be banned because they´re "different" is accepted, then the violent bullies will feel entitled to give them a beating for instance.
And even if this doesn´t happen - which only a very optimistic person would think - being called a freak or a pervert is just very painful, even if it is done in an anonymous forum.