General Discussion

Ocelot II

(129,805 posts)

21. It's the paradox of tolerance.

Sun Feb 1, 2026, 08:00 PM

Feb 1

The philosopher Karl Popper described the paradox as meaning that unlimited tolerance leads to the disappearance of tolerance. If a society extends its tolerance to those who are fundamentally intolerant, the tolerant society will be destroyed, and tolerance with it. Therefore, to maintain a tolerant society, sometimes the tolerant must be intolerant of the intolerant. To get around this paradox, we can look at tolerance as part of a social contract. Tolerance isn't a virtue or a moral principle, but part of the social contract that that includes tolerance of others' differences as long as no one is harmed. If you are intolerant and causing harm, you are violating the contract, and therefore you are not protected by it against the rest of society.

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DU has certainly changed. Folks no longer seem to value empathy nor compassion here and have become as [View all] sinkingfeeling Feb 1 OP

I wasn't shocked iemanja Feb 1 #1

We're not as brutal as the other side. The other side ruins their own lives as they work to ruin ours. Scrivener7 Feb 1 #2

Because the other side wants to exterminate us. RandySF Feb 1 #3

unless we have use as slaves DoBW Feb 1 #10

⬆️ THIS ⬆️ Clouds Passing Feb 2 #86

I am neither shocked nor disappointed that people have run out of empathy for suicide bombers. RockRaven Feb 1 #4

i'm very empathetic, but my empathy has a few not too unreasonable conditions Takket Feb 1 #5

There is a lot of frustration by most Dems simply because we are walkingman Feb 1 #6

We can claim moral superiority because we would not have deported him if it was up to us JI7 Feb 1 #7

He said he would have voted for Trump SamuelTheThird Feb 1 #8

Nah, fuck Trump voters Johonny Feb 1 #9

I think there is a big difference between a lack of sympathy and reveling in sadistic cruelty Fiendish Thingy Feb 1 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Feb 1 #12

People are cutting, and cutting their loses because of Trump. applegrove Feb 1 #13

You'll have plenty of time in concentration camp to feel sorry for Trump supporters. usonian Feb 1 #14

people need to feel secure in themselves for that effort bigtree Feb 1 #15

I share your concerns. Ms. Toad Feb 1 #16

The person in question wasn't a child, and was a Trump supporter. Makes a huge difference. mucholderthandirt Feb 3 #97

He's 26. Barely old enough to rent a car without excessive surcharges, Ms. Toad Feb 3 #100

I haven't been here at DU for nearly as long. B.See Feb 1 #17

Woah! So that "liberal" site sort of initially hid their true, and awful racism etc?! electric_blue68 Feb 3 #95

Yes. And I think many of us B.See Feb 3 #99

Luckily my folks taught us caring. electric_blue68 Feb 4 #105

Bye Felicia! fujiyamasan Feb 1 #18

Self-Inflicted wounds JustAnotherGen Feb 1 #19

2 years ago, i was shocked at the attitude of 2 people that i have known for 20 years Tetrachloride Feb 1 #20

It's the paradox of tolerance. Ocelot II Feb 1 #21

That social contract is also known as the "golden rule"... regnaD kciN Feb 1 #31

Thank you O-II Seinan Sensei Feb 1 #54

+1 dalton99a Feb 2 #78

He supported a regime that never lied about what they wanted to do. nini Feb 1 #22

The Sanctimony Is Just Pouring Off This Post ProfessorGAC Feb 1 #23

It reads more like disappointment to me iemanja Feb 1 #62

There are a few dozen posters in that thread. This forums has tens of thousands of members as far as I know. FascismIsDeath Feb 1 #24

FWIW, a quote from Marcus Aurelius: "Choose not to be harmed anciano Feb 1 #25

Popper's paradox of tolerance in play... haele Feb 1 #26

The country is definitely more polarized,. But if you look at right wing sites and Facebook, you will see much worse. surfered Feb 1 #27

One more thing. . .Use the IGNORE button DinahMoeHum Feb 1 #38

I see So Much Kindness, Empathy, & Compassion Cha Feb 1 #28

They don't oppose authoritarianism Seeking Serenity Feb 1 #29

He got what he supported... regnaD kciN Feb 1 #30

I have no sympathy for any trump supporter. None. Swede Feb 1 #32

+1 dalton99a Feb 2 #77

People are angry, they want revenge. I don't think it leads to good places EdmondDantes_ Feb 1 #33

Some of us took the "high road" and now see people being murdered in the streets by a Stasi style secret police maxrandb Feb 1 #34

I'm not ready to give hitler 2.0 or his supporters a big wet kiss, not even after a half pint of vodka. nt yaesu Feb 1 #35

I'm conflicted FullySupportDems Feb 1 #36

I don't think people are "happy" about his misfortune Bettie Feb 3 #91

I see what you mean and I don't disagree FullySupportDems Feb 3 #96

I get some of what you say mvd Feb 1 #37

110%... this should have 200 recs not the fake Twitter post that has 200+ recs below WarGamer Feb 1 #39

What in the world are you talking about? dpibel Feb 1 #46

Here, it's debunked WarGamer Feb 1 #47

Thanks! dpibel Feb 1 #48

Even when you shred what I write, I always respect your input WarGamer Feb 1 #49

When someone votes for the "Leopards Eating Faces" party sakabatou Feb 1 #40

Being gentle... purr-rat beauty Feb 1 #41

It reminds me of a relationship with a angry person Tree Lady Feb 1 #42

In addition... every day I see bigotry on DU that was unacceptable in the past. WarGamer Feb 1 #43

Hyperbolic dpibel Feb 1 #45

DUers are often far too focused on "dicks" luv2fly Feb 2 #69

there simply is very little support for Trump admirers these days Skittles Feb 1 #44

Our side goes "FAFO" their side would put our backs to the wall. Swede Feb 2 #81

This message was self-deleted by its author Swede Feb 2 #82

My compassion left November of 2024. Buddyzbuddy Feb 1 #50

If you support Nazis, you are a Nazi JoseBalow Feb 1 #51

I'm shocked that you see DU members in that light. The members I value are those that have enormous compassion and Martin68 Feb 1 #52

All I'm hearing in the comments is a lot of sputtering, which is in itself telling. eggplant Feb 1 #53

Me too MorbidButterflyTat Feb 2 #67

My empty well hath run dry róisín_dubh Feb 1 #55

Politics are permission. Sympthsical Feb 1 #56

Agree. Neoantiestablishment is my word for what you're talking about. betsuni Feb 1 #57

I have empathy with one exception... Hope22 Feb 1 #58

/America/ and /we/ are not /the crime/ and haven't /become/ it. TRUMP is. UTUSN Feb 1 #59

I agree it has changed FHRRK Feb 1 #60

I'm very empathetic JBTaurus83 Feb 1 #61

Why should you expect us to be choie Feb 1 #63

Oh boy.... Happy Hoosier Feb 2 #64

He's a Trump supporter who got sent to Mexico. Aristus Feb 2 #65

Prioritizing moral superiority over much more important things is how fascism seized power in the first place. W_HAMILTON Feb 2 #66

I agree. MorbidButterflyTat Feb 2 #68

This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m Feb 2 #70

Agree, I've noticed it too. Raine Feb 2 #71

That is one hell of a "fuck you" statement, that DUers don't value empathy flvegan Feb 2 #72

Point proven... sarisataka Feb 2 #73

Playing nice just doesn't cut it anymore. We're on the brink of losing it all. Vinca Feb 2 #74

The country we knew is gone - and so are the old ways of thinking JustAnotherGen Feb 2 #76

Trump would approve. Nothing he would like better than increase his base from among Democrats. AloeVera Feb 3 #88

If that's what you got from that statement JustAnotherGen Feb 3 #89

Thank you for that "nice" put down. AloeVera Feb 3 #94

A great one. mr715 Feb 3 #101

And you, Sir or Madam, cannot claim moral superiority either when you expatriate to Costa Rica and leave others to fight UniqueUserName Feb 2 #75

A LOT of people don't watch the news and don't follow politics. Nittersing Feb 2 #79

I checked the op you're referring to ecstatic Feb 2 #80

I s'pose we all have different opinions. Torchlight Feb 2 #83

Because "when they go low we go high" agingdem Feb 2 #84

Sorry, but, DU hasn't changed at all, imo. Oneironaut Feb 2 #85

Another child torn from a parent, lives upended. Aren't we against that? AloeVera Feb 3 #87

I don't share your feelings about DU. Not in the least and I've been here since 2004. CTyankee Feb 3 #90

Fonzie is a product of his environment MustLoveBeagles Feb 3 #92

Another thing MustLoveBeagles Feb 3 #93

Yeah I noticed the second to last time that a couple of people really attacked others kerry-is-my-prez Feb 3 #98

Trump has cheapened me. mr715 Feb 3 #102

Yes, I've become the same way fujiyamasan Feb 4 #106

buh bye NoRethugFriends Feb 3 #103

So keep doing what you done The Bopper Feb 3 #104