I was working on an English paper when I decided to write about LGBT on campus. How I felt the town of Laramie actually was rather then what they like to think it is. (I'm not open about being trans, just about being bisexual) I came across a question I began to ask my friends.

What is the difference between being accepted and being tolerated? How do you tell?

To me, being accepted would mean that if I came out about my trans status tomarrow, eveyone shrugs and continues to treat me like a woman. Being tolerated would be my parents, let me be around, but make it plain that they think of me as a boy.

But what do you all think? Where do you place the line?

I think the distinction you make is a very good one.

Tolerance is simply enduring something or somebody you don't like because you realise that no action you take is going to change the situation. I tolerate many arguments, for example, even if offensive and nasty to me, because I've learned that trying to convince other people generally doesn't work unless they're already unsure of their stance.

Acceptance, on the other hand, normalises the situation. It accepts the difference as being not a bad thing, just a different thing, incorporates it into its world view, and henceforth, that updated paradigm becomes the norm.

I'm not always sure of the fine points of distinction. But, after years of experience I'll take acceptance over tolerance any day. Acceptance is being allowed to be human and 'real.' Tolerance always smacks of not quite being thought of as being human, not quite being allowed to visibly be in the view of the other.

Nichole

Tollerance is just "putting up" with somthing but pushing it away in one's head.

Acceptance is actually saying that it is ok for it to exist. and to some degree embracing it when nessicary.

Your mind tells you to be tolerant.
Acceptance just plain feels right, in your heart....

I'd much rather have acceptance, but I'll take tolerance over hate.

y2g

Tolerance=to be put up with.  To be tolerated.

Acceptance=to be embraced.  To be accepted.

Acceptance>>>>>>>Tolerance

But Tolerance is very important, because there are many people out there who are full of so much hate, and they think it's okay to spread it to others to fill the void caused by their own pain.  Tolerance at least puts a check on that.  Tolerance is an acknowledgment that you have a right to do your thing and not be bothered whether they agree with it or not.  Which is a huge step up in many parts of the world.

I hope one day we all can find acceptance though.

Of course to tolerate something is the first step toward eventual acceptance of it.  Like that annoying person in your class or at the office.  You have to tolerate them because you can't get away.  But eventually you just accept that yeah, they're annoying but they may raise a good point some of the time.

Quote from: Maddie Suzumiya on February 17, 2008, 11:16:14 PM
Of course to tolerate something is the first step toward eventual acceptance of it.  Like that annoying person in your class or at the office.  You have to tolerate them because you can't get away.  But eventually you just accept that yeah, they're annoying but they may raise a good point some of the time.

I agree.