Clayboyn's Curation Corner 11/7/20
Welcome back to my philosophy and psychology themed curation from around the blockchain. Politics seem to be the pervading theme this week, but I suppose that makes sense due to the current shitshow going on in the U.S. Anyways, I found some good stuff and I hope you'll check them out. It's a good time to remember to remain open minded too as a lot of people feel very divided over the current political theatre.
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Let us ask a few questions. If a liberal, progressive society oppresses the intolerant, is it self contradicting? Is it violating the freedom of the intolerant? Is such a society a hypocrite one?
When you go on debating with the irrational, emotional and the illogical, they will almost always use fallacies to counter your arguments. But the world is in turmoil right now and opening up news channels or newspapers feels nauseating to me. I think we must seek answers to these questions — frequently raised by the said groups to be wielded as fallacious shields — and we should do it logically.
Murphy's Law arrives unanounced and people have no control over it. All we can do is run with it, unfortunately we eventually learn this after experiencing a number of uninvited interruptions over the years. Like the car battery failing as one has to drive to an important meeting or interview or the oven not working as the guests ring the door bell. Or the morning one has to be at the hospital early for day surgery and the automatic gate decides not to open!
Some would say that the freedom of the world hangs in the balance now. Radical rumors abound regarding the dire dystopian Democrat cabal, sold out to China and willing to usher in Communism to the world via America. What do I know? All I see is the media globally throwing strange statements around about the evil behind the Democrats.
That's what it comes down to. Some people see past the political game and going around in circles, and want it to end. Others, in their fear, can't imagine any other way for things to be, and want to keep the slavery of government going because that's all they can see as a possibility for a way of life. Anything else would be worse, so gotta keep the slavery alive because it's "safer".
Looking back upon thoughts from decades past, I can tell you that my thoughts have shifted.
Although I've juggled the classic problems of existence, my moods have ultimately lifted.
There is no magic pill or formula for a change of fate in this circumstantial life.
This world offers up a multitude of choices ranging from pen to gun to knife.
I'll have to check these out.
"Politics seem to be the pervading theme this week, but I suppose that makes sense due to the current shitshow going on in the U.S."
Shit show is an understatement. All my coworkers are freaking out right now.
I had a conversation with a friend today about tolerance. It's complicated. I made the statement that the only way for the current divisiveness to end is for all of us to practice tolerance of different opinions and viewpoints. Right now it's nearly impossible for liberals and conservatives to have a conversation because there is a lack of tolerance on both sides. But it hasn't always been this way.
My friend didn't react well, because she believed that I was talking about tolerance for extremist views and behaviors. No. I'm talking about things like rights and privileges and healthcare. These are things we should be able to discuss so we can find common ground, or meet in the middle - a place where we can make some concessions and set policies that we can all live by.
Now, if you're talking about tolerance toward white supremacy and hatred, then no. I believe in zero tolerance. I believe those views are horribly destructive to our society - that some group of people is worthy and other groups of people are not. That's insane.
Using Hitler and swastikas as an example in a discussion of tolerance is problematic. He was one of the most intolerant rulers in history, and because of it he was responsible for the killing of millions of human beings. Was Popper suggesting that there should be tolerance for Hitler? For what he stood for, what he perpetrated on innocent people, and the modern day people who want to keep his memory and values alive? Also insane.
Let me provide an example of where I'm coming from. Let's say I have a child, and I want to teach him about the ways of the world. I believe I can teach tolerance and understanding of other people so that he grows up with a strong value system and a good moral compass. I believe that I can also very easily make a clear distinction that being tolerant of someone who is pure evil (e.g. kills for pleasure like Hannibal Lecter, or because he doesn't like the looks or the beliefs or the religion of others) falls outside of that. I am a highly tolerant person. And I feel zero compunction to tolerate murderers and those who feel lynchings are a fine practice.
Tolerance means being able to listen to someone who opposes gun control policies when you feel strongly that there should be a waiting period. Tolerance means not judging someone because they are LGBQ, or they walk with a limp, or come from a certain country, or they have a big nose, or observe the sabbath. Tolerance means listening to other people's views and really trying to understand them so you can have a sensible conversation.
Yea, the author of that post gets into the paradoxical nature of tolerance and I thought it was a really good read. I've had to come to terms with the fact that there are some things I personally can't tolerate and I'm ok with it. I try to be as tolerant and peaceful as possible, but I don't personally want to be tolerant of some things as I feel they violate the most basic fundamental of my belief system, which is not to impose autonomy on others.
I can see the paradox though and that's why I think it was a great post. How tolerant can we be before we are sacrificing our own tolerance by allowing intolerance? How much can we respect another's autonomy until they are imposing on ours? It's one of those things that I suppose we all have to decide for ourselves.
It is a paradox indeed. There are tolerance issues everywhere you look. At the root of it, it seems to me, is that people have a very hard time walking in anyone else's shoes. If you can't imagine the possibility of a belief system other than your own, or you cannot entertain the possibility that any other belief systems are valid, you are by nature intolerant, even if you are actively launching an attack on intolerance.
I just wish the author had chosen any other simplified way of illustrating the tolerance paradox than with that particular illustration, which seems to suggest that there is a problem with your views if you claim to be tolerant, yet you are intolerant of Hitler.
I admire and like your work @clayboyn ......and so nice to see you on Hive. It takes a while to find everyone from Steem, well at least for me it does😊
Thank you for your wise words and thoughts it is!
Always a pleasure to read such informative posts and learn different opinions of people !
Thanks for the spotlight. It's a pleasure to share space with all these talented creators. Turmoil in the world seems to breed dissident thought. Love reading all these free thinker's passionate words. Liberty and the freedom to speak our minds and observe the thoughts of others is one of the greatest gifts to this time of existence. It didn't come freely and has an ongoing cost.
Much love. Stay well and be kind to one another.