Copenhagen, 7 August 2017
Tolerance - is it a product of structure or of culture?
Denmark clearly functions as a tolerant society. But from talking to folks
here and from observation, it... appears that the tolerance is very much a
product of structure. People and society are very tolerant as long as
individuals follow the "rules" and stay within the established
"norm". For example, any deviation from the rule is quickly pointed
out. If a biker innocently breaks a rule, a few people on the road remind
him/her firmly (almost rudely). Sides of stairs to a swimming pool are marked
"wet side" and "dry side", and I ended up using the wrong
side as I needed to hold the rails on the right side. I was told I am breaking
the rule! Same with elevators.
My friends here tell me that the normally polite behavior changes when
people drink and then conversations can get profane and rude. I have not seen
this part. In many ways, Danish society and its normative rule-driven
personality reminds me of a Japan or a Germany or a Singapore. Tolerance in
daily life seems largely a product of structure. What happens then if rules and
structure established for a certain context (homogenous population, industrial
economy, etc) get challenged due to changes? Will structure change or fight to
retain status quo? Is there also another route to tolerance, one more innate
and culturally created with less rules and laws that can flexibly accommodate
to change in a dynamic adaptive way?
