The Easily Offended

[nero_bolt]

People today are so easily offended.

Its something we see on a daily basis on here from some,  people constantly state that they are offended by this or that or this post or that post and it’s something we see on a daily basis in the real world and on the news.   Someone always seems to take offense to minor issues and free speech and has to tell the world and tell us all that they are "OFFENDED" or take "OFFENSE" at this or that

One of the lessons that most of us learned at an early age was, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."  When I grew up it wasn't called "bullying," it was called teasing and having a bit of fun at each other’s expense  and we grew thick skin from it and got on with life.  NOW so many people are offended by so many minor things.

Maybe today's world and the soft***** (soft roosters) need to grow a little thick skin  and stop being so easily offended by everything.

So thoughts, are some to easily offended and take offense to everything.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@creative*crisis wrote:
Blame them that came up with all the political correctness, we have so much more now to get offended at. An absolute boon for those that were running out of reasons.

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What, in your opinion is the difference between political correctness and common politeness?

[alexander*beetle]

So thoughts, are some to easily offended and take offense to everything and a whinger.

I’ll put my hand up. I’ve been called many things on, here including being easily offended and a whinger. 

But I guess the fact that some actually care about people’s feelings and the impact that bullying and offensive words can have on them makes us a bit different from those that think it’s ok to be a coward keyboard warrier and insult and abuse people because their opinions differ. Or accuse people that they've said something, that they haven't or have their words twisted so the angry person can attack them again.

You just never know what people are going through in real life and someone might just be tipped over the edge by the insults thrown at them, not that the keyboard warriers would worry about that because they would just say that the person needed to 'toughen up'. And I often wonder if those that are quick to jump on people on line would be the same in real life. Interesting. 

I’d rather be a sooky la la, whinger, whiny type of person than full of hatred, sarcasm and negativity that is shown up on here to be what it actually truly is. I don't need big pictures to express outrage, I can do that all by myself. 

[aps1080]

Alex

Yes, I would say the same thing in real life, face to face.

I call a spade a spade.

[creative*crisis]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

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@creative*crisis wrote:
Blame them that came up with all the political correctness, we have so much more now to get offended at. An absolute boon for those that were running out of reasons.

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What, in your opinion is the difference between political correctness and common politeness?

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That's a very good question and I think it's going to stress my braincells to be able to express an intelligent reply in short order but I'll try.

To me politeness es are the common courtesys , please, thankyou etc. PCness is having to show at least an outward respect for things, people, differences that may not be genuinely held in order to apear to conform to the socially aceptable.

[the_great_she_elephant]

After reading the views of so many posters, I suppose it's only fair that I climb down off the fence and offer my own opinion on the subject.

I believe that 'freedom of speech' is not the simple concept  some think it to be. I tbelieve it is an incredibly complex one, comprising many many layers of competing rights and responsibilities And if we are going to defend it we need to examine the nuts and bolts and full ramifications of what we are defending rather than waffle on about some vague, feel-good theory.

In a democracy the rights of the individual have always to be balanced against the rights of society as a whoe, that's why we have laws. 

No-one can be prevented from having an opinion or from expressing it in private, but when it comes to expressing opinions publicly the right of the individual to say whatever he or she pleases has to be weighed against the damage it may do to society as a whole - or to any section of society, and it is clealy the weighing of this balance cannot simply  be left to the discretion of each individual.otherwise we would end up with a form of anarchy in which all laws pertaining to defamation and even libel or slander would have to be abolished. 

As I see it, in a democracy the only real option we have is to allow our elected representatives, i.e. our government, to draw the line for us. And if we feel the laws their decision is either too harsh or too lax, then we  can protest it at the ballot box.

This is my own, personal opinion. It does not mply a criticism of those who may feel differently, and I would be really interested to hear the cosidered opinions of those who do (feel differently) .

[pct001wine]

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@nero_bolt wrote:

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@creative*crisis wrote:
I agree with some of your points but IMO bullying is a whole different ballgame.

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 Simple teasing or taking the micky out of someone in a friendly way  isnt BULLYING but the soft left and easily offended will make an issue out of it 

I agree there is a difference between a bit of fun and humour and bullying but this thread is about the easily offended and just how easy they get offended to everything.... 

This seemed to be a sensible thread until the OP reverted to form and pulled the "soft left" card, as if getting outraged/offended is the sole province of the left (whover they are), and the right (whoever they are) just sail on through life getting offended by nothing.  What a crock.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

After reading the views of so many posters, I suppose it's only fair that I climb down off the fence and offer my own opinion on the subject.

I believe that 'freedom of speech' is not the simple concept  some think it to be. I tbelieve it is an incredibly complex one, comprising many many layers of competing rights and responsibilities And if we are going to defend it we need to examine the nuts and bolts and full ramifications of what we are defending rather than waffle on about some vague, feel-good theory.

In a democracy the rights of the individual have always to be balanced against the rights of society as a whoe, that's why we have laws. 

No-one can be prevented from having an opinion or from expressing it in private, but when it comes to expressing opinions publicly the right of the individual to say whatever he or she pleases has to be weighed against the damage it may do to society as a whole - or to any section of society, and it is clealy the weighing of this balance cannot simply  be left to the discretion of each individual.otherwise we would end up with a form of anarchy in which all laws pertaining to defamation and even libel or slander would have to be abolished. 

As I see it, in a democracy the only real option we have is to allow our elected representatives, i.e. our government, to draw the line for us. And if we feel the laws their decision is either too harsh or too lax, then we  can protest it at the ballot box.

This is my own, personal opinion. It does not mply a criticism of those who may feel differently, and I would be really interested to hear the cosidered opinions of those who do (feel differently) .

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OOPS! I meant to post this in the Freedom of speech thread.

[***super_nova***]

Never mind, it firs here rather nicely 🙂

[***super_nova***]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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"This quote, which gets passed around quite a bit , has become an unfortunate call to arms for all rape joke apologists and casual racists. It’s reached a point where “what it really means” has become eclipsed by what it’s been taken to mean, namely that you shouldn’t get mad when something offensive is “just a joke.”

https://tealeavesdogears.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/why-stephen-frys-offensive-quote-is-total-bull**bl...

[gleee58]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

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OOPS! I meant to post this in the Freedom of speech thread.

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That would be appropriate.

I did attempt to discuss some thoughts in that thread last night but got annoyed by the child and gave up on it.