Tolerance? Its what we all probably do without actually conceptualizing it just to get by.
I honestly want to get along with everyone and be happy and live in a world where everyone smiles. I think everyone else does to. Then real life starts to get in the way; the competition for resources and our natural instincts war with our logic and moral centers. This conflict within us is then translated outward towards others, often times others who are far more similar to ourselves then we would wish it.
I want to be friends with everyone, but I have found I am incapable of being friends with everyone, due to my own limitations, and that sucks. So I try even harder, and the effort I put forth unkowingly migrates into a subconcious entitlement from others - they must recognize how hard I am trying to be their friend! This entitlement turns into resentment which then becomes my own personal "wrath of god" upon some poor person who unknowingly annoyed me. At this point I step back, speak to a peer concerning my problem, look for a solution to move forward, and start again trying to befriend everyone. I guess that makes me insane, as I keep trying to do the same thing over and over without success. This statement also is a good generalization of most internet religion threads, as well as other topics that tend to flame out.
We can try and try to get along and tolerate each other. But then someone says/does something that makes our hackles rise. We think they are wrong. They think we are wrong, etc. Usually, in my experience, what makes our "hackles rise" is an internal issue we have with ourselves, not the outward stimuli. The outward stimuli just brings that issue we have with ourselves into focus for us. I my case, I react with either shame/guilt/fear etc which then manifests itself as anger. It is far easier then to project that anger upon the person who offered the original stimulus. I am in imperfect being. So, I dedicate myself to the principle of "progress, not perfection."
Did any of this make sense? lol
GMcG
(often a raging hypocrit!)