We've gotten away from speaking English in this society and communications have suffered. In my view they're at an all time low. Zero tolerance is just one small example.
2007-06-20 08:06:33 · 10 answers · asked by 428 Moore 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Theoretically, there is no difference. However, as your question suggests, intolerance has developed connotations over time which go beyond the literal meaning and is seen as having a negative meaning (intolerance usually means prejudiced or narrow-minded, and refers to a lack of patience with a certain group of people).
Those who use the term "zero tolerance" usually mean it as a deliberately positive term. The tolerance they speak of is generally of things, not people. Schools, for example, may have zero tolerance policies on drugs or weapons; never, to my knowledge, on Latinos or Jews!
In this case the existing term failed to meet the intended spirit of the policy, so a new one was invented. The fact that a word exists does not mean that it will work in society today, even in its intended form. I recently witnessed a situation in which a well-spoken individual got into trouble for using the word "*********", which is a word which means "cheap". The person against whom he used it, not knowing the word, thought it was a variant of the N-word, and so did a number of that individual's superiors. No dictionary shown them dispelled their suspicion that a racial epithet had been used. In such a case, it becomes inadvisable to use the existing word and to find a new one to fit the purpose. Nothing changed about the word itself, but society had changed around the word, giving it new connotations.
2007-06-20 08:21:06 · answer #1 · answered by neniaf 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's reasons like this why English is considered the hardest language in the world to learn. We have so many colloquialisms and non-English words incorporated into our langauge, you practically need to be a true polyglot in order to speak it fluently. Zero tolerance and intolerance are not interchangable terms--each one is used in a specific context.
Zero tolerance is used when referring towards tolerance of negative behaviors. A school may have a zero-tolerance policy towards cheating, for example. A sports team may have zero-tolerance towards steroids. Zero-tolerance implies that whatever the negative behavior is, anyone caught indulging in that behavior is immediately disciplined.
Intolerance on the other hand is used when referring to human demographics. A person can be intolerant of gays, intolerant of hispanics, intolerant of Muslims, etc. Intolerance refers to a negative, uncompromising prejudicial attitude towards the target group.
Intolerance can also be a medical term indicating a person is vulnerable to or suffers bad side effects from a particular substance. Being intolerant to household cleaners can mean a person suffers a rash when exposed to them.
2007-06-20 08:13:05 · answer #2 · answered by P.I. Joe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my view, zero tolerance usually pertains to a policy like absolutely no drugs allowed in school, etc. Intolerance: I think of someone who doesn't like a person or situation or is allergic to a substance. I don't think they mean the same thing at all.
2007-06-20 08:11:41 · answer #3 · answered by manoflamancha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't know the difference between intolerance and zero tolerance ... then pig latin is not all I could teach you....
...and obviously not all that you have yet to learn ...
dR bad
g'nite ;-)
ps... there is a massive difference and as an intolerant person .. you should know
2007-06-22 07:01:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The language changes over time ... do you really
want to speak "The King's English?" Considering
the last time that even meant anything (pre 1952),
probably not.
And of course this is ignoring regionalisms. I mean,
I used to come from a neighborhood - not a hood.
Saddest, in some ways, is the death of the adverb.
How are doing? I'm doing good.
No! You are doing WELL! If you were doing good,
you would be acting philanthropically, not feeling
fit and happy.
Perhaps this is a major problem with attempts
to embrace lots of cultures - we embrace ever
growing diversity in language. In the long run,
I don't think that's a good thing.
2007-06-20 08:14:41 · answer #5 · answered by Elana 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the way i see it, zero tolerance is having no acceptance and respect of the subject of matter at all, intolerance is not accepting it to a certain point...
2007-06-20 08:11:22 · answer #6 · answered by bkbombshell2005 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Zero tolerance is absolute; intolerance is not.
2007-06-20 08:18:45 · answer #7 · answered by Hemingway 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
intolerance is not accepting something. Zero tolerance is not accepting OF something
2007-06-20 08:14:50 · answer #8 · answered by shayshay 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's true. "Zero Tolerance" means "we have no value for due process"
2007-06-20 08:09:58 · answer #9 · answered by U_Mex 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi there, just wanted to mention, I liked this discussion. quite valuable answers
2016-08-24 06:17:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋