Is it closed minded to be so smug and sure of your own opinion that you do not allow for the possibility of a dissenting view?
Yes, but that's different from some people being stupid, or at the very least, woefully ignorant. Perhaps the worst are those who are just lazy.
Isn't it intolarance when dissenting views are viewed universally as idiocy?
Universally, yes. When you assess on reflection a dissenting arguement is utter bull, then you can view it as idiocy and not be intolerant.
But I realize that there do exist true idiots who are on both sides of certain issues discussed on this board however and I do not wish to defent their actions,...
... defent?
I actually try to be stupid both sides of an arguiement occasionally to keep in practice.
but not all veiwpoints on either side are experessed so ineloquently.
... slow down, ure ina hurre ...
... I would hope that the purpouse ...
ih zed sleh doune!
...of our discussions with each other is not to come to an agreement or a consensus, but a tolerance for people being allowed to have their point of view and a mutual respect for those who can express themselves without lowering themselves to common mudslinger.
That's your opinion not a universal truth. And your opinion is a very broad generalisation, so much so it loses meaning.
The purpose of two people of similar viewpoints having a discussion is validation and reinforcement. Two people with fairly open minds can reach an opinion through discussion that only one, or indeed neither of them held prior to it. Two people with less open minds but with high tolerance can do what you say, as they have sufficient tolerance to not mind a polar opinion being held. Two people who are intolerant and closed minded will never agree or agree to disagree. There are more combinations possible, as obviously you don't always have to have a discussion with someone with a similar level of tolerance and variety of opinion.
But then you have the lazy, the ignorant, and the stupid. Do not fall victim to the democratic fallacy that everyone's opinon is as good as everyone else's. Do not assume that effort is equal to value. Do not over validate, but rather validate what is worthwhile
I think we all have a lot to learn from each other this way and it truly helps us to further explore our own humanity.
Feed the world, feed the children?
