Is expressing an honest opinion offensive ?

[Erana]

It depends on how you express it.

But let's be honest here, people will always be offended by something, however tactfully you say it. I mean, how dare you disagree/not care/agree with me?! That is UNACCEPTABLE!!!

So, uh, I guess that the real answer is that it doesn't matter. Yay!

This, to a degree.
It really depends on your audience. If you explain something well enough, then people shouldn't get mad.

There is a significant difference between saying, "This movie is a piece of shit!" and "I did not enjoy this movie." I see all too often instances where people on the internet don't seem to understand the difference between being opinionated and being inarticulate and offensive.

 

[Stall]

Depcrdeends entirely on the opinion really. If you get offended because sports team X is better than sports team Y, then that's a little silly. But if I said an honest opinion about your ethnicity that is cruel and degenerate, then yes, expressing an honest opinion can be offensive.

 

[lacktheknack]

"I don't think you understand, I GENUINELY BELIEVE that Africans are sub-human and should all be made second-rate slaves!"

I'm somewhat confused by your question.

 

[Aprilgold]

If something is GENUINELY offensive, then it doesn't matter if its honest.

Someone, somewhere will always find your opinion offensive. No matter what you say or how you say it, there is always a chance someone will find it offensive.

What he said.

 

[scorptatious]

Depends on the subject matter. If it's something like which game do you prefer over another, then there is nothing offensive about it. We're all individuals that are into different things.

If it's something like 9/11. Well, that's a bit more touchy. Recently there was this huge thread talking about 9/11, and most of the people on there believed that it was time for America to move on as it was ten years since it happened.

While I can agree with this logic, it's often how some people say it that was offensive to me.

Some posters would kindly respect the dead but also say that we should put the past behind us. Others however didn't have as much tact. One person blatantly said: "Why is America worried that about a couple of planes and a few thousand people? They have plenty of both." That was what pissed me off about that thread.

The same can usually be said for other subject matters no matter how small: People can get offended by how the person is stating their opinion. If I said that X is better than Y, and you are all idiots for thinking differently than me, then people would have every right to be offended by me.

Of course some opinions are offensive no matter how you put them like lacktheknack's example.

"I don't think you understand, I GENUINELY BELIEVE that Africans are sub-human and should all be made second-rate slaves!"

 

[Squarez]

Someone, somewhere will always find your opinion offensive. No matter what you say or how you say it, there is always a chance someone will find it offensive.

Is that due to literally everyone else on the planet being incredible prudes or should you check your opinions?

People in this world seem to think that just because opinions can't be definitively 'right', then it makes them think that no opinions can be wrong.

P.S. This wasn't directly aimed at you iLazy - I don't know you - but people in general who seem to hold the belief that you can go around saying whatever you like.

 

[Ohhi]

No it isn't offensive unless you get in my face about it and try to skull fuck me because I don't believe what you believe.

Thats how I see it anyway.

 

[Pegghead]

We talk about how being offended by something is an entirely open-ended thing, what gets me riled gets you high yeah?

Well I say that it goes for the flip-side of that too, when you state an honest opinion make sure it comes across as an honest opinion. Just a few words can do that, take a statement like:

"Eating bread is for chumps"

turn it into

"I think eating bread is for chumps"

But I don't know when it comes to this sort of thing, me and my friends call each other variations of the n-word all the time (mostly because we've become so desensitized that it's basically become a general insult, I guess a combo of living on an island where there aren't many black people and being exposed to the dreaded word in all variations every-day over the world wide web) yet I get offended when people here try to act "sympathetic" to Australian gamers because they think we're all a backwards-ass lot that need a license to play Barbie's horse adventures (sympathy when it isn't needed, false assumptions, over-dramatization etc).

 

[JMV]

I think the two are independent. Someone can honestly insult you or pleasantly lie to you.

 

[FalloutJack]

Is it ?

Is saying something controversial wrong ? Is having the will to speak out and give a different point of view wrong ? I meet a lot of people who get offended when ever someone expresses an opinion that contradicts their point of view or beliefs and I just wish to know what the average person thinks.

Well, Jack is far from average, but I think that people just hate to be told. Like...ANYTHING. It's not that it's offensive, but that they just hate contradiction.

 

[Grospoliner]

Yup, an honest opinion can be totally offensive. Fortunately, no one has the right not to be offended.

 

[NotSoLoneWanderer]

OH HECK YEAH I learned that the hard way in school that nobody wants your honest opinion especially in catholic school. Screw kindergarten nobody wants to hear what you have to say.

 

[babinro]

It isn't wrong to be honest and express your opinion.

Be prepared to defend your stance if your opinion is even remotely controversial or offensive. Be respectful of the feelings of those around you...if your opinion or judgement could embarrass someone or insult them, don't declare it in a public setting.

 

[teh_Canape]

I don't think it's much what you say, but rather how you say it

Spoiler

oh my god

I SOUND LIKE A WOMAN

 

[iLazy]

Someone, somewhere will always find your opinion offensive. No matter what you say or how you say it, there is always a chance someone will find it offensive.

Is that due to literally everyone else on the planet being incredible prudes or should you check your opinions?

People in this world seem to think that just because opinions can't be definitively 'right', then it makes them think that no opinions can be wrong.

P.S. This wasn't directly aimed at you iLazy - I don't know you - but people in general who seem to hold the belief that you can go around saying whatever you like.

No, it's more like since we have opinions and they're all going to be different, so someone will get offended no matter whether said opinion is 'right' or 'wrong'. Ex: "I like chocolate!" "That's cool, personally I like caramel." Now some people will ask why you don't like chocolate, to which you'll explain. Some will accept this and move on, while others will be a little, over using this word but I can't find another, offended that you don't enjoy something they like.

I'm not saying that all your opinions will offend one person, but one will eventually offend someone, either in a major way or a minor way. It's kind of hard to explain.

I, for one thing, believe in the hold your tongue if you have nothing nice/ appropriate to say about the topic.

 

[Ashannon Blackthorn]

It comes down to this. "Do you believe in unfettered freedom of speech?" if yes, then it is never wrong to speak your opinion no matter how controversial or "wrong". But if you believe in freedom of speech with responsibility, then yes, some things can be wrong.