When more tolerance equals less

YOUR editorial (ODT, 27.7.22) on offensive opinions, safety, tolerance and the ‘‘great irony of inclusivity’’ was welcome reading. Standing back to look broadly at the public discourse of our time you exposed the incoherent and inadequate framework on which so much criticism takes place and ended with the assessment: “There’s a lot of hypocrisy about.” It rang familiar as many individuals and groups claim sanctuary from critique under banners of tolerance and claimed rights while then also exercising some right to strongly condemn others — even offensively.

The grinding method here is to get various current denunciations — as you listed — to stick like mud in public shaming. Past are the days of argumentation involving the facts of a matter or any principle of charity. I am not sure I want to be included in this meltdown! I want to suggest that in large part this has come about due to the demise of core reference points, especially that of ‘‘truth’’.

Our increasingly mad public discourse proceeds on the basis of assertions that there is no absolute or objective truth, there is no great story all can relate to, there is no transcendence — “above us only sky.” Without reference to anything greater than ourselves each speaks their own conviction as if it was absolute truth and society tries to manage a grab bag of values without root or reason.

Editorials that point out these trends or articles that expose them may help us navigate this meltdown of meaning.

Francis Noordanus Dunedin

Mosgiel pool entrance

THE road safety issues relating to the entrance to the new Mosgiel pool could be greatly simplified by simply closing the end of Eden St. This is similar to the closing of the ends of Lanark and Glasgow St on to Gordon Rd and would result in minimal nuisance to residents in Eden St.

Colin Mackintosh

Mosgiel