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Comment by dnsco | Hacker News Reader

I agree that forgiveness is powerful. I also linked to that page because it shows a balanced view intentionally.

It is easier for one to be forgiving when the problem is abstract and one's life is not directly threatened by the intolerance (please forgive the unwieldy "one"'s, I don't want to make any assumptions about "you"). I have a lot of respect for people who are able to hold forgiveness in their hearts, I also understand the value of the self preservation in drawing a firm boundary in saying "I will not be attacked". It's complicated.

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One's life is not directly threatened by intolerance when it comes strictly to speech. It is only action taken upon that speech (or imminent action caused by it) that threatens lives.

And preventing the restriction of ideas such that "augmenting intelligence" or "radical life extension" are not suddenly unspeakable is very much unlike being intolerant of others anyway.

Self-preservation is important, but it's also important for people to avoid being drunk on their own self-righteousness.

Anil's argument was that tolerating hatred of groups emboldens those who would be violent against those groups. In that, I agree violent speech threatens the lives of those who it is is violent against.

There also degrees to this. There are certainly instances of people being drunk on their own self righteousness.

- If I were a non-christian and you were to wish me "Merry Christmas", if I took the interpretation that you were threatening my life that would be unreasonable.

- If you were to announce "I'm not killing anybody, but I pray that all the gays are killed" I think my understanding of that as endangering my life (as a gay person) is totally reasonable.

This is a nuanced conversation, it helps to remember that different people have different things at stake, and it's difficult to say things that apply to every level.

Organized violence begins with the organization, and why most countries in the modern world have some provision to prevent inciting violence, riot, etc.

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