tolerance...

i'd like to hear your thoughts on the word tolerance. I think it is often used by socially liberal people as the noble justification for why things should be allowed in society. After some good discussion I'm stuck on what it really is though, it seems so relative. I mean everyone has their breaking point, things that they won't tolerate, so are they intolerant? to a person who would like that particular thing tolerated, yes. so how can 'we need to be more tolerant' really be used as a justification for anything when of itself it offers no noble intention and promises no beneficial result. So what should we tolerate, especially if we claim to be loving and accepting and mature people who view all people as equal in the eyes of God?