Do we become more or less tolerant with age?

[officerripley]

I have become a little more tolerant of not having the retirement and old age I was hoping for. I think it's not because of acceptance on my part but because we seem to know more than a few people who are having a really unpleasant time. (One couple, they were both really healthy, then he got Covid which sent him into dementia and a Parkinson's-like condition and his wife is getting exhausted trying to take care of him and missing the guy he used to be. So I could--and may well some day but not yet--have it worse than I do.)

 

[Bella]

It depends. I'm less tolerant of people who are full of themselves, sanctimonious twits, and people who try to shove their beliefs down my throat. On the other hand, I'm as tolerant as I've always been concerning those who are physically, emotionally, and mentally challenged. I don't expect things from them that they can't give. Overall, I find that having low expectations makes life more tolerable. That way, I'm not disappointed.

 

[DebraMae]

I am more tolerant of different beliefs, points of view.

However, I am less tolerant of willful stupidity and will walk away from that in a heartbeat.

 

[Jamala]

I have always been cautious about the word “tolerant.” For me tolerance shows a willingness to suffer opinions and behaviours one does not necessarily agree with.
I believe knowing when and how to use tolerance is important because becoming too tolerant we become blind to bad behaviour and then things can get out of hand.

Speaking personally, I would say, I am more accepting than tolerant and have been all my life…a trait my parents encouraged. I believe acceptance is non-judgemental and hope that age will not diminish that emotion.

 

[feywon]

I have always been cautious about the word “tolerant.” For me tolerance shows a willingness to suffer opinions and behaviours one does not necessarily agree with.
I believe knowing when and how to use tolerance is important because becoming too tolerant we become blind to bad behaviour and then things can get out of hand.

Speaking personally, I would say, I am more accepting than tolerant and have been all my life…a trait my parents encouraged. I believe acceptance is non-judgemental and hope that age will not diminish that emotion.

As i said above somewhere, there are things that should not be tolerated. I think this quote from Karl Popper covers the similar thoughts of you and i regarding 'unlimited tolerance':


"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant."

Karl Popper

 

[seadoug]

Sparked by something said on another thread--that we tend to get 'our panties in a twist easier" as we age. i don't think that's true of all seniors. i think some of us learn to let stuff slide unless it is really important to us somehow. i guess i could create a 'poll' but i'd rather y'all just share your thoughts

Of course a lot depends on what exactly we're talking about getting 'hot' about:
A difference in interests, tastes, perspectives? Heck one of things i enjoy about cybertalk is the varying POVs---sometimes even ones i disgaree with can create an interesting train of thought.
or
How we talk to each other? Here again i recognize that some people will be more blunt, (which can feel rude to the one on receiving end of it), or snarky which not every one may receive well, and some people have trouble understanding plain sarcasm--but you can't expect people who barely know you to know when you're being sarcastic.

We have so many options of threads to spend our time on here, why do some seem to go looking for things to complain about and they often are the ones that initiate few threads? Are they the ones that create stick the rest of us oldsters with the stereotype of being curmudgeonly?

For myself my values haven't changed much since youth--but unless the talk or behaviors are harmful to living beings---i'm more tolerant of those with different values than mine. Tho they may end up on mental ignore.

And i have to laugh at the phrase 'panties in a twist' because as i aged and got more tolerant--i also stopped wearing actual panties unless in a skirt or dress. So my physical need for comfort kind of reflected my decreasing concern about minor issues with other people. As i wanted to remind myself that if it quickly won't matter to me at all--why get upset. Most of the time i have no panties to get twisted.

Take this and run with it, could be fun.

I guess I resemble that remark. Overall, I've become more tolerant but there are certain subjects that are "hot button" topics for me and, regardless of age, that won't change. I've certainly become more patient with people in everyday life that may be older, infirm or physically challenged because I'll probably be dealing with the same issues some day.