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The Difference Between Tolerance, Submission and Learning Not to Care
Conflict always has been part of human history, and that remains true today. The political and business arenas in particular are fraught with an almost overwhelming number of deep snag points. And although we use the terms commonly in our quest for peace and growth, there are stark differences between tolerance, submission and learning not to care.
Tolerance
People often use the word tolerance in the sense of intentional acceptance or approval. But tolerance technically is defined instead as simply allowing something to exist or happen without having it affect you in a negative way. As an example, if there’s a huge pile of old papers and trash on my desk but I’m able to focus on my work and get to the supplies I need, then I’m tolerant of the mess. The nastiness doesn’t impede me at all.
But this doesn’t mean I truly enjoy or prefer a mess. I can let it sit there and still acknowledge that it’s gross. And a secondary definition of tolerance is “to endure with repugnance”. I don’t have to approve of what I allow, and in fact, tolerance implies that I don’t. I’m not going around saying trash piles are wonderful or that everyone should have one. It just means that, even as I recognize that it’s in front of me, I can work despite it. I might give the pile more attention if my…
