I think you two are using "intolerant" in different ways. There is a general state of intolerance, a mindset whereby one is given to a belief that others are wrong by virtue of birth, creed, or other state of being, which Westboro and others fit quite well, and then there is a specific act of intolerance, which is to actively stifle the views of another, acts that the bikers of the given example probably partake in. I think these are two separate definitions, and can't really be directly compared, as you don't agree in language but, it seems, you may agree in principle.
I humbly submit an Anatomy of Intolerance in three steps: 1. A person exists, having certain values and opinions. 2. The person observes something which offends their values and opinions. 3. The person responds to that thing, with quiet reservation, vocal dissent, active opposition, or in some other way. Step 2 seems to conform to the dictionary definition of intolerance, and seems unobjectionable to me. Step 3 is where Eich hit trouble, and I suspect that ecib is intolerant of activity only in that step. I first saw this story on The Dish and I thought Sullivan got it right. But then I saw ecib's comment and I thought he was right. Sullivan has since posted some updates and I'm again unsure. Why do most of us tolerate this once-widely-maligned group? Surely because culture has evolved. Perhaps this trend will continue until even today's most despised villains are tolerated, if not embraced, with understanding. This paragraph in The Atlantic was striking: The man's name wasn't publicised, but his story reminded me of Phineas Gage.Nobody can deny that we are sometimes biochemical puppets. In 2000, an otherwise normal Virginia man started to collect child pornography and make sexual advances toward his prepubescent stepdaughter. He was sentenced to spend time in a rehabilitation center, only to be expelled for making lewd advances toward staff members and patients. The next step was prison, but the night before he was to be incarcerated, severe headaches sent him to the hospital, where doctors discovered a large tumor on his brain. After they removed it, his sexual obsessions disappeared. Months later, his interest in child pornography returned, and a scan showed that the tumor had come back. Once again it was removed, and once again his obsessions disappeared.
Yes, pretty much. Even step 3 doesn't qualify as intolerance in most cases if it is "quiet reservation" IMO. Once you campaign, fight against, attempt to change minds and policy, etc, then I view that person as intolerant, and do not count openly calling out that intolerant behavior as intolerance itself. To do so is a semantic game and leads us away from the issue and debate. It's a rhetorical escape hatch for bigots. Regarding Eich, I do not believe one has any standing to complain about being ousted from leading an organization that exists for an ethical purpose when one is unethical, or at least seen as unethical by the community the org is there to serve. Absurd to praise an org for values and mission but argue that it's leader should be able to hold damaging values while in that role. I read the Sullivan piece and sound it spectacularly sensationalistic rhetorically. Basically a bunch of inflammatory language wrapped around the silly "taking issue with intolerance is intolerant" argument. There is an endless list of personal views, attributes, values, actions that would prevent an otherwise qualified person from being a CEO or other leadership role. People get knocked out of the running every single day across the globe. Activism to deny people equal legal rights happens to be on that list increasingly. This is good. Edit: I should clarify that I'm aware that Eich has actually vocally complained about any if this, but the same sentiment applies to his vocal defenders.