I have become less tolerant over the years. And as I write this, I feel I should be apologizing straight away. Tolerance is a term with a stern reputation. Diminishing levels of it surely must signal a negative personal evolution. But is that really so?
Let's think about some concrete examples. I have developed very little tolerance for sheer displays of silliness. It never ceases to surprise me, for instance, the thuggery, snobbishness and bandwaggon effect-like behaviour deployed by some very prominent figures in the Spanish Internet scene.
More examples. I have no patience for feeble arguments or self-proclaimed victim attitudes. I have learnt to appreciate that adult crying signals complaint, but not necessarily having reasonable grounds for such complaints. This comes very handy when analyzing Spanish politics, for instance.
I demand a lot from myself. Over the years, I have definitely become less tolerant too with those not equally committed with the quality of their work. I find this ability to honestly judge has helped me develop a strong personal taste, deeply enjoyable in ways far beyond my professional career.
It may be true that men are basically designed to get along with themselves, who they are and who they have become, as the alternative option is rather grim. But having said this, I truly think that tolerance, like pluralism is a term neither good nor bad in itself. Against what may be the cultural norm of our time, It depends on what you apply it too.
