Tolerance in Action

A couple days ago a blog I follow, FringeTelevision, posted some photos of Anna Torv (who plays Olivia Dunham in Fringe) from Esquire's "Women We Love" feature that FringeTelevision described as 'racy' and my mom described as 'salacious'. (I had to look it up too. My mommy is smart.) There were mixed comments on the post, some disappointed that Anna had allowed herself to be portrayed that way, some supportive. I was the eighth commenter, and I said:

It seems ridiculously incongruous to see these in conjuction with the Olivia we know from Fringe.

It's not that I'm surprised, or that I'm really disappointed in Anna Torv, but I object to the way she's sexualized like this. Is this really the only thing we look for in 'women we love'? What about intelligence or confidence or humor? Are near-nude photos the only thing that will make us sit up and pay attention? I think not.

Given what a few of the previous commenters had said, I surmised that I was not without support in my opinion. Another reader said she'd been "endorsing [Anna Torv/Olivia Dunham] as a role model to my teenage girls. Now she is just another Hollywood nobody who hasn't the good sense to retain part of herself, for her and her husband."

However, immediately after my comment, two others added their opinions:

I'd love to see the reaction you conservative nutjobs would have had if you saw Anna on "Mistresses" where she shared a steamy kiss with... a woman! (gasp!) Wake up, people. It's 2010; teenagers on myspace post more suggestive photos than the ones of Anna in Esquire. Just because she portrays a buttoned-down FBI agent, doesn't mean she is one. These pictures are tastefully done, playful, and show Anna for the stunning beauty she truly is. I will appreciate the photos for all you uptight people that can't.

and

You people live in a highly disturbed state of mind.Anna is an actress not some doll that you can dress up and pretend to be something you like.And when someone touches your doll, you start to feel very offended about it.Stop filming your life, yes the show is great, but Anna is a living person and she can do whatever she wants without asking some old fashioned idiots like you for approval.

Fun stuff. Now I'm a 'conservative nutjob', I'm 'uptight', I 'live in a highly disturbed state of mind', and I'm an 'old fashioned idiot'. Surmising that from their opinions, these individuals supported the popular definition of 'freedom of expression', I came to the not unreasonable conclusion that they probably also bought into another popular 'value'...

Boy. Apologies for expressing my opinion. Thanks for your thoughtful tolerance of my views! :D

Emphasis added.

Yay tolerance?

UPDATE: I've now also been accused of ignorance regarding what goes on in magazines. Aren't they just so polite?