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TaBooTenente
TaBooTenente
Join Date 10/2004
+2

Indoctrination of Social Intolerance

For the Sake of Argument, Let's Say We Live in a Moderate Society....

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November 23, 2004 12:19:58 AM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
For the sake of argument, let's say that everyone is born equal.

For the sake of argument, let's say that America provides everyone an opportunity to succeed.

For the sake of argument, let's say that we have free-will.

For the sake of argument, let's say that everyone has a code of ethics, and everyone lives according to his/her ability to follow his/her own code.

For the sake of argument, let's say that everyone's code of ethics occasionally differs from the general, societal code of ethics.

For the sake of argument, let's say that the general, societal code of ethics is a consensus code of ethics, based on a range of concessions everyone must make for the consensus.

For the sake of argument, let's say that a consensus always provides for the fringes, but supports the most moderate aspects of society with more strength and depth.

For the sake of argument, let's say that human beings are capable of evolving.

For the sake of argument, let's say that as human beings evolve, our personal codes of ethics also evolve.

For the sake of argument, let's say that as our personal codes evolve, our consensus code evolves.

For the sake of argument, let's say a function of evolution is diversity.

For the sake of argument, let's say diversity creates a longer, but thinner, consensus code.

For the sake of argument, let's say the moderate center suffers the most when the consensus code is forced to stretch.

For the sake of argument, let's say that when the moderate center is forced to surrender some ground, the moderate center also becomes less willing to accomodate additional change.

For the sake of argument, let's say the fringe left desires additional change.

For the sake of argument, let's say the fringe right desires a reversion to a familiar consensus code that they whole-heartedly supported.

For the sake of argument, let's say that the fringes, though similar in passion and nature, are incompatable in vision.

For the sake of argument, let's say the moderate center decides to hold ground.

For the sake of argument, let's say in order to maintain power over the consensus, the moderate center must make concessions to the fringes.

For the sake of argument, let's say that once concessions are made to the fringes, the moderate center must choose a polarity.

For the sake of argument, let's say that once the moderate center chooses a polarity, there no longer is a moderate center.

For the sake of argument, let's say that once a moderate center ceases to balance the whole, then no consensus exists.

For the sake of argument, let's say that when no consensus exists, then only social intolerance remains.


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TaBooTenente
Danny Bassette
Join Date 02/2003
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Reply #1 November 23, 2004 12:32:02 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
So your saying that our country is going to tear itself apart, politically speaking at least? Or am I reading too much into things?
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TaBooTenente
TaBooTenente
Join Date 10/2004
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Reply #2 November 23, 2004 12:39:56 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
I'm not sure I want to make any predictions. I've just been looking around, judging the results of the recent election, and some the points both sides like to make. Labeling, polarizing, and generally less tolerance or respect for other opinions.

Bigotry and other forms of intolerance have always existed. The climate seems extremely charged right now, and it worries me.

TBT
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TaBooTenente
nataUN
Join Date 10/2004
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Reply #3 November 23, 2004 1:02:56 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Very good, Taboo!

I read some of your other posts and you seem like you are worried about your liberal party, lol! But you are right. What do you think of anti-semetism? Or racism? Do you think the fringes on both sides cause people to become bigots out of self-defense, when they lose their comfort zone?

Very interesting.

Eric
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TaBooTenente
Bahu Virupaksha
Join Date 09/2004
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Reply #4 November 23, 2004 1:37:02 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Social intolerance stems from power:when groups in society seek to dominate or establish control over other groups then there is intolerance. Physical differences are given cultural and historical significance and the porous borders of groups are rendered more firm. This results in more intolerance. NBationalism is the ultimate product of such progressively generated intolerance backed by the might of the state.

The only way to break this bond between social, ethnic and racial intolerance is to explore the power structures which depend on such intolerance.
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TaBooTenente
TaBooTenente
Join Date 10/2004
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Reply #5 November 23, 2004 1:47:00 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Reply #4 By: Bahu Virupaksha - 11/23/2004 1:37:02 AM
Social intolerance stems from power:when groups in society seek to dominate or establish control over other groups then there is intolerance. Physical differences are given cultural and historical significance and the porous borders of groups are rendered more firm.


Well, I would agree with you that when one group attempts to dominate another, a side effect is intolerance. But when dominance is the motivation, intolerance often is simply a propaganda tool, a way of controling history, the present, therefore the future (think Orwell). Dominance is different than intolerance, though sometimes the two overlap.

What I really think causes intolerance is love of comfort. Love of comfort is not necessarily a push for luxury, but a stubborn addiction to the way things are. "The way things are" by definition conflicts with what I see as inevitable evolution. When this happens quickly, like it seems to be happening now, then the moderate middle loses its indentity and, in seeking comfort, must stretch itself to include more radical beliefs. When this happens in turn, there is no balance. All that remains is intolerance.
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TaBooTenente
TaBooTenente
Join Date 10/2004
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Reply #6 November 23, 2004 2:04:19 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
What do you think of anti-semetism? Or racism? Do you think the fringes on both sides cause people to become bigots out of self-defense, when they lose their comfort zone?


The word "people" is a good one, I think. I think the fringes tend to make everyone less comfortable, especially in times of rapid change.

Look at places where revolution is taking place, or where dictators came to power. The Russian revolution saw the red party take control in order to eliminate the class structure. Lenin-ism and certainly Stalin -ism, however, became perversions of their ideals when they felt they had to stablize the power of their party. Some of the original party supporters were labeled as fringe sympathizers, and traitors, and were killed. Jews were killed in droves, though they in no way threatened the overall ideology, because of the great labeling that subsequently took place.

If you prefer to look at the population-at-large, post-WWI Germany shows a devastated people forced through rapid change. The middle ground had been abolished, and realigned with the strengthening ultra-right. of course, everyone, not just the left suffered the consequences.

TBT
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TaBooTenente
AKSnoman
Join Date 11/2004
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Reply #7 November 23, 2004 2:12:44 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
"For the sake of argument" doesn't do well beyond the first couple lines. Not only is it a sorry attempt to dig your heels in, but it's also very annoying to keep reading. I didn't read the first couple of words of your last 16 lines, but I assume they all said "For the sake of argument." You're wrong because you're annoying.
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TaBooTenente
David St. Hubbins
Join Date 01/0001
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Reply #8 November 23, 2004 6:43:19 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Great article, very thought provoking.

You're wrong because you're annoying.

So I go to AKSnoman's blog to see if he really is this much of a prick. Not surprised to see he site is titled 'Inflammatory Responses', lol...sometimes the jokes just write themselves
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TaBooTenente
Dr Guy
Join Date 09/2004
+129
Reply #9 November 23, 2004 8:07:36 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Good Article. But the way to stop the slide into anarchy or civil war is to keep the center, and not start adopting the fringe elements, regardless of the pressure.

that is why we have majority rule. The right, with the center, will not allow the left to implement their extremes, and the left, with the center, will not allow the right to implement their extremes.

But all in all, a good thought provoking article.
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TaBooTenente
TaBooTenente
Join Date 10/2004
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Reply #10 November 23, 2004 11:17:43 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Dr. Guy:

Thank you for your comments.


Reply #9 By: Dr. Guy - 11/23/2004 8:07:36 AM
Good Article. But the way to stop the slide into anarchy or civil war is to keep the center, and not start adopting the fringe elements, regardless of the pressure.


I would agree with you. But it seems to me that politics work the wrong way. The moderate center reaches out to the fringes in order to retain power. The polarization of the center happens automatically, or so it seems.


Often, the center does not need to reach all the way to the fringes to maintain power, though. When the nation heads through less dynamic forms of change, the middle's reach sticks to "mainstream" support from either side, rather that the fringes. But when many things happen at the same time, then the middle is forced to stretch beyond its limit.

And I also feel like the center does allow the fringes to establish policy in some areas of life when the balance of power is in jeopardy. When that happens, you get hasty laws that may be partially good or bad, but do not have the general population. Depending on your own political perspective, I'm guessing you have one or two laws or policies you'd like to see seriously revised or even overturned.

Thanks again,

TBT
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