# Just because I TOLERATE you, does NOT mean I don't think you're crazy. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 11, 2011, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206 "2011-01-11T08:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/21 "2011-01-11T17:23:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It sounds to me like the Christians got upset because thy thought the OP was denigrating the efficacy of prayer. Well, too bad for them. Others are not ethically obligated to believe in religious superstitious or magical chanting rituals. It’s all explained in the Rules Of Tolerance which state, in part, _You have to respect and fawn over every stupid fucking thing we claim or pretend to believe in, no matter how far fetched. However, we retain the right to shit all over whatever you believe or disbelieve. If you do not cheerfuly accept our disrespect, you are disrespecting us._ Note: Snark and sarcasm are deliberate. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/22 "2011-01-11T22:28:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It sounds to me like the Christians got upset because thy thought the OP was denigrating the efficacy of prayer. \ Is that the offense? I didn’t get any of that from any of it. Oh well. I managed to get an entire message board up in arms by suggesting once that the US might have been the teeniest bit responsible for the terrorist attacks on September 11th - I don’t always get the nuances. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/23 "2011-01-11T23:43:44Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Yes, it’s passing notes in junior-high study hall… for the 21st century. Uh… we’re on a section of an internet message board specifically designed for people whining and bitching about other people, either passive-aggressively to a bunch of strangers, and behind the anonymity of a keyboard. If you think people on Facebook are stupid and immature, it’s because your friends are stupid and immature. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/24 "2011-01-11T23:48:06Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It sounds to me like the Christians got upset because thy thought the OP was denigrating the efficacy of prayer. Well, too bad for them. Others are not ethically obligated to believe in religious superstitious or magical chanting rituals. Depends entirely on HOW it was said, and we don’t get a true picture of that from the OP. Sure, you don’t have to believe what they believe, but the same applies to them. Your belief that you know what is right and what others believe that is different is offensive and contemptable is no different from any other asshole who thinks what they believe is the truth and everyone who thinks differently is stupid and contemptible. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/25 "2011-01-12T05:02:13Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Maybe. Maybe not. > > But whatever you think of the Palins, if somebody says “I’ll pray for you” and you respond “That’s literally the least you can do,” you’re not so much insulting the person doing the praying but the prayer itself. That’s the thing that got folks upset, I think. I just respond “Thanks, I’ll think for you”. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/26 "2011-01-12T15:16:50Z")
> [@Baboonanza](#): > > People pray about everything _all the time_ and bad shit still happens on a constant basis. If it worked why would we even bother with the brain surgeons? Just put the patient in a corner and have everyone pray for her, that’d do it! I would suggest that even Christians (the non-crazy ones anyway) know that praying doesn’t actually achieve anything. It’s something that people do when they either can’t do anything useful or (in this case) can’t be bothered / don’t want to do anything useful. It’s the option of last resort. I believe in prayer, and I don’t think I’m crazy. Yes, bad stuff happens. I don’t expect life to be all chocolate and roses. Sometimes the answer to prayer is no. I also believe in the God-given ability of doctors for healing. Your brain surgeon comment somewhat applies to my life: having a daughter with type 1 diabetes, I believe in the doctor’s ability to treat her disease and keep her not only alive, but thriving. There has been one too many cases in the news recently where parents have only trusted faith-healing to care for their diabetic children, and those children have died. I do not believe those children dying can be the will of God. And, to answer the OP: I don’t find anything offensive in what she said, and I think if friendships were severed because of that, then some people have some growing up to do. And it being the least they could do: the Palins are in a position where they can help in other ways, so I agree totally with that statement. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/27 "2011-01-12T16:22:16Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > If you think people on Facebook are stupid and immature, it’s because your friends are stupid and immature. I just stole this to use as my Facebook status. I hope you don’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/28 "2011-01-12T16:50:02Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Well, I agree he shouldn’t have been surprised. > > It seems like once a week we see people complaining about facebook friends spamming them with unwanted political or religious drivel, yet they never seem to want to drop them as friends. I’d drop them like a hot potato. In fact, I have done just that with people I barely knew in high school sending me “Obama is teh antichrist” crap. Hell, I’ve done it because of Farmville requests. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/29 "2011-01-12T17:08:14Z")
Why do you hate sheep? ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/30 "2011-01-12T18:28:47Z")
OP: “I posted this slightly controversial thing and my friends got upset. Then I said some stuff and now they’re really pissed and some aren’t my friends anymore! What’s wrong with them?” Hmm. Methinks part of this story is conspicuously absent. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/31 "2011-01-12T18:37:20Z")
As an atheist I have an equivalent to prayer. It’s called “hoping real hard” and I’m guilty of doing it from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/32 "2011-01-12T21:05:19Z")
> [@Matthew 6:5](#): > > And when you pray, do not be like the dumbasses, for they love to post about it on Facebook, or Tweet about it to be seen by their followers. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full Something like that, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/33 "2011-01-12T23:51:28Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I just stole this to use as my Facebook status. Hell, so did I. Godspeed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/34 "2011-01-13T13:59:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > I believe in prayer, and I don’t think I’m crazy. Yes, bad stuff happens. I don’t expect life to be all chocolate and roses. Sometimes the answer to prayer is no. > > I also believe in the God-given ability of doctors for healing That must be cheaper than medical school. All my doctors had to study, work hard, and spend lots of money to become doctors when all they needed to do was have God give them the talent. I wonder why God gives people in richer countries more doctors than in poor countries. Maybe he hates brown people. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/35 "2011-01-13T15:29:56Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > As an atheist I have an equivalent to prayer. It’s called “hoping real hard” and I’m guilty of doing it from time to time. Me too. When I read “we are praying for …” I see it as “we are really hoping for …” But I’m not on Facebook and I don’t have pushy religious friends (any more). I guess I “defriended” them IRL, back before the interwebs got all middle school. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/36 "2011-01-13T15:46:28Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > That must be cheaper than medical school. All my doctors had to study, work hard, and spend lots of money to become doctors when all they needed to do was have God give them the talent. I wonder why God gives people in richer countries more doctors than in poor countries. Maybe he hates brown people. Not quite, but nice try. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/37 "2011-01-15T20:35:08Z")
I just don’t read it that way at all. I read the idea that praying is the least they can do as pointing out that prayer without changing your actions is pointless. It comes off as if the prayer is insincere. IOW, if Palin really didn’t want violence to happen, she should be doing something about her rhetoric. As a Christian, I know that “I’ll pray for you” is often just rhetorical, and such a rhetorical remark really is “the least you can do.” ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/38 "2011-01-15T20:44:02Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > IOW, if Palin really didn’t want violence to happen, she should be doing something about her rhetoric. Yeah! And if she didn’t want starvation to happen, she should do something about her gym membership! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/39 "2011-01-15T21:10:41Z")
You cannot petition the Lord with _ **prayer** _! ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206/40 "2011-01-15T22:14:06Z")
Personally I think expressing anything via facebook is not quite the least you could do - that’d be tweeting it - but it’s certainly right up there. “Something terrible happened. OMG! I’ll express my grief via status update right after I poke all my friends and check on my farmville. John McCain is my neighbor there.” I feel that regardless of intent, a public figure wishing to make any sort of statement that is to be taken seriously should not use facebook to do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-i-tolerate-you-does-not-mean-i-dont-think-youre-crazy/567206.md?page=3)