Zero tolerance

Reader question: In this passage – In Spain, about 75,000 lorry drivers have 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. 

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.

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".

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.