Intolerantly for Dummies

Intolerantly is a word we use to describe how someone acts or thinks when they are not receptive or accepting of others who are different from them, or things that deviate from their own beliefs or expectations. It's like when someone refuses to understand or respect other people's opinions or cultures because they are stuck in their own ways. It's kind of like when you really love vanilla ice cream, and you refuse to try any other flavor because you think vanilla is the best and you don't want to consider that other flavors might be just as good, or maybe even better.

So, when someone behaves intolerantly, it means they don't have an open mind or a willingness to accept and embrace diversity. They may discriminate against or mistreat others based on things like their race, religion, gender, or simply because they are different from what they are used to. And instead of trying to understand and appreciate those differences, they choose to be judgmental or prejudiced.

Let's imagine a situation where two friends, Amy and John, have different opinions about a topic. Amy believes that everyone should have equal access to education, while John thinks that only some people should have that opportunity. Now, if Amy tries to have a conversation with John to understand his point of view and to explain her own, and John interrupts her and refuses to listen or consider her opinion, that would be an example of John behaving intolerantly. By not listening or accepting Amy's perspective, he is being closed-minded and intolerant.

It's important to remember that being intolerant can hurt and affect others deeply. It can lead to feelings of exclusion and can prevent understanding and progress. We should strive to be open-minded, respect different perspectives, and embrace diversity, as this helps us learn from one another and create a more inclusive and fair society.

So, in summary, being intolerant means not being open-minded or accepting of people who may think, look, or behave differently from ourselves. It's like closing ourselves off to all the amazing flavors of ice cream, just because we are convinced that vanilla is the only one worth trying.