I had the thought today that I'm not so much tolerant of other people as I am indifferent towards many aspects of their lives.
Is there an appreciable difference between tolerance and indifference?
@zacharius
That really depends on how you define tolerance. Although to me indifference seems the best stance, at many levels.
To me, "tolerance" is a virtue you practice when you believe somebody is doing something wrong but you choose to de-escalate conflict.
If somebody hasn't done anything wrong, there's nothing to "tolerate". Indifference is a better word for it, in that case.
For example, I don't "tolerate" LGBT people. I *like* LGBT people. I *tolerate* Trump voters.
@zacharius tolerance is wrapping a cat in a towel. Indifference is not having a cat. Tolerance is necessary when indifference can’t be achieved.
@aRandomCat
I think this is a great answer. Thank you
@zacharius indifference is better
@vgr @zacharius Tolerance often bleeds over into narratives about "appreciating" people and trying-to-understand them. Indifference ensures there's a barrier between you and empathy.
@zacharius Tolerance means it threatens your self-identity but you put up with it, likely erecting emotional barriers around it. Indifference means it doesn't matter much to you.
I prefer indifference.
@zacharius
Tolerance is needing 4 oxys to get high and indifference is scoring an 8-ball instead.
@zacharius depends if you mean indifference as in, doesn’t even register, like a blind spot. If not, then I think there is. Tolerance to me has something to do with overriding a bias of some sort. It’s more active. Indifference is acknowledgement with no consequential response or action.