Is society so easily offended by being offended around the offense of the offender?... OH GODS!!

[Parasondox]

Hello Escapist

Don't let the title fool you I am going to make a point soon. Being offended, yeah I think a lot of things offend us in today's society. Whether it's something racial, sexist, religious and non religious etc, and I fully understand those BUT I have been noticing that in cases certain people in society can get very easily offended.

Mostly I have noticed in the UK that whenever something bad or just stupid happens on TV, either the BBC or ITV get complaints from angry views about certain issues. A presenter accidentally swears with a slip of the tongue, people send in their emails and some even DEMAND I SAY for the said presenter to be sacked or suspended. Relax viewers it was a slip of the tongue on live tele. I've heard worse on the bus, and tube, and schools, and hospitals and just everywhere.

Someone in the Escapist forum (Thank you Really Offensive Name for the post) even pointed out how in their work place (retail), they had complaints from some costumers about the referring to them as "Sir/Madame" eg. "Excuse me sir/madame would you like to try a sample of...". Honestly how can you be offended by being called sir or madame?

Okay those are just a few examples and there has been many more out there in the world. Yes we all have a right to be offended HOWEVER do you think sometimes it goes too far?

Let me know and if you have heard or been through any similar situations of an offense that wasn't offensive but mostly just pointing out something or a fact, please comment below and share your thoughts.

ADDED NOTE: Me saying "OH GODS" may have also offended certain religious groups because they have the found belief of only having ONE God and also offended those who don't believe in God entirely. I am just being open here to different cultures and beliefs, so please relax and lets laugh and have fun cause we are all human

 

[IllumInaTIma]

I still remember that debacle about Microsoft's Killer Instinct presentation on last E3. That was pretty stupid.

 

[omega 616]

Man, I wish I could post that "Steven Hughes offended" video, I will be quoting/referencing it though.

People need to chill the fuck out! So what if you're offended, nothing happens... You don't get offended and then wake up with lepracy. You feel a little insulted for about 1 minute but you get over it and move on from or do other people still hold a grudge against kids who called them names in your first year of school?

People have different views, accept that and let them say "Jesus christ" and "god dammit" or whatever. If somebody says "you're an idiot" it's okay 'cos they're a dick (that's a reference) . The sooner you accept people have different views and have different personalities and they will clash.

For all the intellect on the net its amazing to me that people still get into flame wars.

 

[DoPo]

People have different views, accept that

It's funny how you say that and yet you don't accept that others can have a different view and you can't accept that.

Just wanted to note it.

 

[TehCookie]

It's not people getting offended that's the problem, it's when they want to change something to make it not-offensive to them. It's amazing how much better it is to ignore things that offend you than subjecting yourself to it every time you have to go hate about it. It's not good to keep unhappy things on the mind, move on.

Though I can't answer when the offended takes it to far, because I think nothing is sacred and everyone should have thicker skin.

 

[omega 616]

snip

What? No, seriously.

I want to write more but what can you say to "hypocrite, lol"? Guess I'll just ramble for a second....

Just exactly which part makes me a hypocrite? Is it "why do other people get offended.... Why can't you accept other people have different views"? I'm not 100% but my view is man up, grow a set, grow a thick skin.

Or are you pitching the "does tolerance mean you have to tolerate intolerance" angle?

 

[VanQ]

We are the first generation to have no group or person that we could consider a genuine threat to our safety and well being. Thus, we as a peaceful generation have invented our own boogey men to call to arms against. The patriarchy/terrorists/the government/what-have-you.

It's not that there are no wars or anything at the moment, it's just with the US and several other countries sitting on such dangerous stockpiles of nuclear ammunition, no one really wants to be responsible for the nuclear war that could happen.

And I'm also not claiming everything in the world is perfect and there's no room for improvement. It's just that when compared to just about any point in history, we have it really damn good.

 

[DoPo]

Just exactly which part makes me a hypocrite?

I thought it was pretty clear - you said that people should understand others have different views and accept it. Well, you clearly don't accept others having the different view of "being offended". So yes, that part. And exacatly as you said - the offended would feel offended - so what? So what is it to you exactly? Why are you throwing a fit over it, if it shouldn't matter?

 

[LostCrusader]

I just think there are a lot of people who go out of their way to be offended, and those people really aren't worth worrying about in my opinion.

 

[frizzlebyte]

It's not people getting offended that's the problem, it's when they want to change something to make it not-offensive to them. It's amazing how much better it is to ignore things that offend you than subjecting yourself to it every time you have to go hate about it.

Thing is, usually the people making a fuss are the same people who decide at every turn that society is falling apart, usually compared to a rose-colored ideal past that they think existed, either in their own time or a more distant one they admire. By taking down the thing that offends them, they feel that they can change the world for the better. Their version of "better," obviously, but this is where that mindset comes from.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Just exactly which part makes me a hypocrite?

I thought it was pretty clear - you said that people should understand others have different views and accept it. Well, you clearly don't accept others having the different view of "being offended". So yes, that part. And exacatly as you said - the offended would feel offended - so what? So what is it to you exactly? Why are you throwing a fit over it, if it shouldn't matter?

Lots of whining is irritating and can lose people their jobs, ban things and generally cause a lot of inconvenience. So yeah, throwing a shitfit every time something happens can matter, whereas actually being offended in the first place is something you can easily keep to yourself- or at least not go around making ludicrous demands over.

 

[VanQ]

Snip.

You know what? Your post was excellent and hit right on the mark that I was trying to make with a more eloquent and expanded post than I managed to make. Your examples are right on the mark and everything.

Funnily enough, in all the time I've been on this site, since 2009 I hadn't received a single warning and in the last 48 hours I've received three due to people that I disagreed with abusing the report button. It's gotten to a point on forums like these where disagreeing with someone equates to "being mean" or "rude" to your fellow users.

The thing I hate about people who are easily offended is when you say something accidentally offensive, apologize for it (admitting you were wrong) and yet they still bring it up in arguments against you.

Seriously, stuff slips, I was called a Transphobe for not knowing "tranny" is a derogatory term (I swear I always thought it was the abbreviation of Transexual) I apologized for saying it yet they wouldn't let it go and they told me I was "cis-gendered scum"

I was also called both a sub hater and a racist because I didn't like Goku's Japanese voice and preferred the English dub (I know, how dare I)

Recently, I've been called "Anitaphobic" for not liking you know who. No, I'm serious. That word is a thing now, and people use it unironically.

 

[DoPo]

Just exactly which part makes me a hypocrite?

I thought it was pretty clear - you said that people should understand others have different views and accept it. Well, you clearly don't accept others having the different view of "being offended". So yes, that part. And exacatly as you said - the offended would feel offended - so what? So what is it to you exactly? Why are you throwing a fit over it, if it shouldn't matter?

Lots of whining is irritating and can lose people their jobs, ban things and generally cause a lot of inconvenience. So yeah, throwing a shitfit every time something happens can matter, whereas actually being offended in the first place is something you can easily keep to yourself- or at least not go around making ludicrous demands over.

Right, gotcha so we should be offended of the people who are being offended as being offended is destroying the very fabric of reality and we don't want that. I think that covers it. Oh, also that offendedness is never justifiable and everybody who is offended never has the right to be. And the logic here is sound, of course, we can't miss that.

 

[Thaluikhain]

People have different views, accept that

It's funny how you say that and yet you don't accept that others can have a different view and you can't accept that.

Just wanted to note it.

Exactly.

Going off on a slight tangent, there seems to be this idea that freedom of speech is so important nobody is allowed to criticise what people say (though it's alright to criticise them).

Secondly, it's very tempting to simply dismiss people's concerns about things as then just being "offended", and needing a thicker skin. Now, yeah, you can say that if you want, freedom of speak and all, but it's very disingenuous.

 

[timeformime]

Yes, many people will take a disagreement, or an invitation to debate, as an attack. I come from a pretty good background, where arguing on heady, important topics was normal, and now I'm in a low-end job going to school where if you disagree with someone and say so, it means you're trying to start something. There's no room for compromise.

So I can't help but think it's somewhat related to education - a good education usually gives you experience in looking at your own views objectively. This helps you not get offended when they are challenged.

 

[LightningFast]

It's okay to be offended. It's human to be offended. It's normal to want to seek out and inform others about WHY you are offended. Healthy, even.

That said, you don't have a right to go around FORCING people to change whatever it is that offended you. You can sure as hell try, but they've no obligation towards you. Furthermore, there is no arbitrary guideline for what to do if, GOD FORBID, someone is offended! Nobody NEEDS to be fired. Nobody needs to apologize, nobody needs to be suspended, nobody needs to be fired, and above all else, NOBODY NEEDS TO GET ARRESTED!