Intolerance & me.

I tweeted this a couple weeks ago, "Geez, I'm allowed to be weirded out by something. It doesn't make me intolerant. Not everyone is going to like the same stuff. Get over it."

I was talking to someone and they mentioned something they were into. They asked what my opinion on it was. I said it creeped me out, because it does. I said I felt it was weird, because I do. I said it made me uncomfortable, because it does. I explained more specifically why I had those feelings because the person I was talking wanted to know. So, I explained simply why it didn't float my boat.

Then I got called intolerant.

Uh, no.

"Intolerance: Not tolerant of others' views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one's own.

Intolerant: Unwillingness or refusal to accept people who are different from you, or views, beliefs, or lifestyles that differ from your own."

I'm allowed to have a negative opinion on something without it being intolerance. I don't care that the person I was talking to is into it. I'm not hating on them doing it. I didn't bash it. I didn't bash them for liking it. The only "negative" thing I even said was that I'm not comfortable with it and it's creepy to me.

Sorry, that doesn't make me intolerant. A lot of people tend to get defensive when they talk about something they like and then someone doesn't share their appreciation of it. There's no need to be defensive about it when you're not being attacked, judged or ridiculed for it, though.

Someone having a differing opinion from you doesn't make them intolerant.

What does his shirt say?

I always think it's a bit silly when people say that t-shirts with sayings, slogans, etc on them are pointless.

"The way to spread awareness about a cause isn't by plastering it on a stupid t-shirt and wearing it around, no matter what the cause is."

I disagree. How many of you see a t-shirt and read what it says? I know that more often than not, I'm going to read what it says. More often than not, I end up shaking my head. Sometimes, I laugh. Sometimes, I get irritated and want to punch that person. Sometimes, even more rarely than all the rest, I smile huge and want to hug the person.

Think it's a silly, stupid, pointless thing to do if you want. People read shirts. And if it says something interesting enough, silly enough, offensive enough, etc? People start conversations on what they see. Or, even if it doesn't lead to a conversation, it might make someone think.

And even if it doesn't do either, I'm all for standing up for what you believe in. If you want to do that by putting your view on a t-shirt and walking around, go for it. Just be prepared to deal with any consequences you may face doing so.

Sir Ian McKellen has some words of wisdom. Well, the t-shirt he's rocking does anyway. I also want the shirt he's wearing. Not the exact shirt but you get what I'm saying.



You don't have to like it.

You don't have to agree with it.

You don't have to go out and befriend a gay person.

Tolerance. Try it.

Happy Wednesday!

Leave a comment please? :)