英语阅读：Zero tolerance
Reader question: In this passage – In Spain, about 75,000 lorry drivershave been on strike since Sunday night and more than 70 have been arrested. The
Spanish government has promised zero tolerance for any violence by the drivers,
following a series of incidents which included an attack on a trucker who broke
the strike. That attack left him with 25% burns to his body (Truckers strike
worldwide, BBC Learning English, June 13, 2008) – what does "zero tolerance"
mean? Is it a good phrase to learn to use?
My comments: "Zero tolerance", literally meaning no tolerance at all is by
and large a political jargon. Use it with care.
I mean, by all means use it insofar as you use it in the right situations
and in proper context.
"Zero tolerance" was originally a law enforcement term popularized by the
police in America, at first referring to "get tough" policies against certain
widespread crimes. It's very similar to what the Chinese police call a
"crackdown". A "crackdown" on theft, for instance, means severe punishment for
pickpockets, burglars and the like – during a crackdown, even the slightest
crimes could get the longest sentences allowable by law. In fact, a pickpocket
might get the same sentence during a crackdown as does a government official who
has stolen millions from the people in normal circumstances. That's what a
crackdown means. That's exactly what "zero tolerance" means. In the trucker
strike story, when the Spanish government "promises zero tolerance for
violence", it means to punish violent strikers most severely, without leniency
and disregarding extenuating circumstances which in normal times might lead to
nicer treatment. In other words, all violence during the strike, whether serious
or not serious, will be treated as, well, serious (for lack of a more specific
word). Authorities like to be vague, anyway, so that may as well do.
These days, the term has gone somewhat rampant, littering all over the
place. We see agriculture authorities introducing "zero tolerance" measures
against fake pesticides, police having "zero tolerance" for prostitution,
offices showing "zero tolerance" for employees coming to work late, schools
meting out "zero tolerance" punishments against plagiarizing...
In short, quite consistent of our impatient times, everybody seems to grow
less intolerant of everyone else. I myself am no exception. I have total
tolerance for our footballers. I don't mind, you see, that they failed to
qualify for the next World Cup Finals. I don't even mind that this time, they
failed at the very first hurdle (getting eliminated at the group stage). I have
no problem with that. In fact, I am fine with it because one, I thoroughly
believe they thoroughly got what they thoroughly deserved and two, I have long
outgrown the habit of being one of their naïve and suffering fans.
Kidding aside, here are media examples of "zero tolerance".
1. zero tolerance for underachieving English schools:
'Zero-Tolerance': Schools Lay Down Law
Under-performing schools should face a crack-down and "zero-tolerance"
approach to unruly pupils, according to the schools' watchdog. - Sky News, June
13, 2008.
2. zero tolerance for athletes using drugs:
IOC President assertszero tolerance against doping as top priority of his
mandate
Speaking ahead of the World Conference on Doping in Sport that will open in
Madrid next week, IOC President Jacques Rogge said that the fight against doping
remained at the top of the agenda of the Olympic Movement. - olympic.org,
November 7, 2007.
3. zero tolerance for passengers:
Passengers at Heathrow face zero tolerance
Passengers at Heathrow airport's glittering new terminal, which opens three
months from today, will face a tough new zero-tolerance policy: be in the queue
for security at least 35 minutes before the flight or count as a "no show". -
The Independent, December 27, 2007.
4. less tolerance for "zero tolerance" itself:
At schools, less tolerance for 'zero tolerance'
"Zero tolerance" discipline policies that are enforced widely in U.S.
schools are backfiring: They may be promoting misbehavior and making students
feel more anxious, the American Psychological Association (APA) said Wednesday.
The group called for more flexibility and common sense in applying the policies,
reserving zero tolerance for the most serious threats to school safety. - USA
Today, August 9, 2006.
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