Comments on: Toleration and Intellectual Freedom

By: Not as good at vocab as I thought

Not as good at vocab as I thought — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:15:51 +0000

Today I learned toleration was a real word, and not just a misused version of tolerance.

By: Annoyed Librarian

Annoyed Librarian — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:44:00 +0000

As far as I know, both words mean more or less the same thing. I used “toleration” because I was thinking of John Locke’s “Letter Concerning Toleration,” which I remembered reading about at some point. Looking at the Wikipedia entry for Toleration, it seems there was a British “Act of Toleration” and a “Maryland Toleration Act.” So maybe that’s the more historical usage. Based on the Wikipedia entry for the “Letter Concerning Toleration,” it doesn’t look like Locke was especially tolerant in his argument for toleration.

By: Pat Serafini

Pat Serafini — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:14:52 +0000

I agree with every point that the poster made. Every point was made very articulately and compellingly.

However, I have a question. Did I miss the boat or is “toleration” now acceptable as the noun for “to tolerate”? I thought the word was tolerance. I know this is petty, but I am curious enough to want to know. I am Canadian, so maybe toleration has become so imbued in the American collective conscious that the word’s use does not raise any sociolinguistic eyebrows. I don’t want to offend anybody (because I am Canadian :) – yes I can stereotype myself).

By: Respect isn't hard

Respect isn't hard — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:48:24 +0000

I know many people that respect other religions with
out the need to practice that religion. I mean real
respect, not just toleration. My religion is right
for me, but I don’t make the assumption that it’s right
for you. Everyone has different needs.

By: Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries

Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 02:52:38 +0000

@Allison, ALA still uses BBW. See for yourself: http://ftrf.org/?page=BBW

By: Development Arrested

Development Arrested — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:31:46 +0000

They realized that they had made a huge mistake when their ad in the local paper got an interesting response at the Gothic Castle.

By: Allison

Allison — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 19:06:11 +0000

I haven’t noticed ALA using the BBW acronym this year. I’m so glad they caught on! Weirdly enough, the only place I have seen it this year was on this blog.

By: Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries

Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 05:34:10 +0000

Well, he did write The ALA Anthem: "Smut"!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 05:20:41 +0000

Had Tom Lehrer written a song about SafeLibraries, I can guarantee you wouldn’t have liked it.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 19:23:38 +0000

Bravo AL! I loved this article and applaud you for it!