Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

[GBRNoah]

Why is this world so full of people who have nothing better to do than take offence on behalf of someone else? There's a whole industry growing up around it. DO NOT presume to know what any person / group might find offensive and then complain on their behalf. I've never even fallen over this supposedly pejorative term before, so I don't know what it means, but then I'm an old, vertically challenged, limey. 

 

[RedTuna]

I a man not sure what I find more offensive.  That someone thought that was offensive, or that someone was offended by someone else being offended by that.  

So so the question I have to ask who is the bigger wimp?  The person who thought it was offensive or the person who took offense to the offended person?

my personal opinion is we both people as well as all the walked on moon skeptics to the moon and not give them a space suit.

Lets see them be offended with no air.  

Now I'm feeling triggered by your inchoate, aggressive statement.  Guessing you were maybe too tall to ride the short bus.

Rather than retreat to my safe space, I'm gonna ask if you like boobs.  Because if you like boobs, I can really respect your first amendment right to offend.  

 

[SloopJonB]

 I'm an old, vertically challenged, limey. 

Well then you probably offend nearly everyone with whom you come in contact.

 

[Point Break]

While I don't suggest or would ever advocate censorship to outlaw "offensive" speech or literature......I figure it's easy enough to ignore for myself.....I wonder about the notion that a person should decide to say or write anything they want with the full knowledge it may be distressful or offensive to someone. I'm not talking about those fragile "your hairstyle offends me" snowflakes but rather those overt actions sure to cause some folks distress. In the "short bus" case.....which is probably borderline......my neighbors across the street are caring for their severely mentally and physically handicapped child in their home. They refuse to institutionalize him. He gets picked up by the "short bus" a couple days a week. They've never said anything to me but I know years ago in casual conversation I made an accidental purely conversational reference to a persons actions as "retarded". While they didn't object, I knew immediately by their subdued reaction and quick termination of the conversation it wasn't pleasant for them and even hurtful. Looking at their daily struggle, their wish above all he were "normal" and could speak, laugh, run like the other children.............I felt badly that my words dredged that up for them. I've never again used those terms in jest anywhere in any circumstance. 

Why.......would we.......not because of law but because of human compassion and deference to the difficulties of others.....decline to say/do those things? I used to tell my guys "just because it's funny.....and that is funny.......does not mean you should do or say it". Surely we can.....as a compassionate culture distinguish between those things that are offered as snowflake whining and those that have the potential to be legitimately hurtful?

 

[SloopJonB]

Yep - no different than not telling Polish jokes to Poles.

It's called good manners.

Very different from the P.C. "offended" crap that is so popular now. That is nothing but an assault on free speech.

If you can't offend someone, somewhere then you don't have free speech - you have polite conversation.

 

[A guy in the Chesapeake]

While I don't suggest or would ever advocate censorship to outlaw "offensive" speech or literature......I figure it's easy enough to ignore for myself.....I wonder about the notion that a person should decide to say or write anything they want with the full knowledge it may be distressful or offensive to someone. I'm not talking about those fragile "your hairstyle offends me" snowflakes but rather those overt actions sure to cause some folks distress. In the "short bus" case.....which is probably borderline......my neighbors across the street are caring for their severely mentally and physically handicapped child in their home. They refuse to institutionalize him. He gets picked up by the "short bus" a couple days a week. They've never said anything to me but I know years ago in casual conversation I made an accidental purely conversational reference to a persons actions as "retarded". While they didn't object, I knew immediately by their subdued reaction and quick termination of the conversation it wasn't pleasant for them and even hurtful. Looking at their daily struggle, their wish above all he were "normal" and could speak, laugh, run like the other children.............I felt badly that my words dredged that up for them. I've never again used those terms in jest anywhere in any circumstance. 

Why.......would we.......not because of law but because of human compassion and deference to the difficulties of others.....decline to say/do those things? I used to tell my guys "just because it's funny.....and that is funny.......does not mean you should do or say it". Surely we can.....as a compassionate culture distinguish between those things that are offered as snowflake whining and those that have the potential to be legitimately hurtful?

Your point is well taken, PB - and I'd suggest that your recognition and personal decision to not cause unintentional offense are something that we should all strive to achieve.  That said - the inverse, people seeking offense where none was intended and responding out of proportion to perceived slights is something I think that we ought to avoid. 

 

[dacapo]

Linky please?

I might have a gallon or 2 of flammable shit to throw on that fire.

it's all your fault ;-)

 

[Point Break]

Your point is well taken, PB - and I'd suggest that your recognition and personal decision to not cause unintentional offense are something that we should all strive to achieve.  That said - the inverse, people seeking offense where none was intended and responding out of proportion to perceived slights is something I think that we ought to avoid. 

Agree completely..........completely..........

 

[SloopJonB]

Me too.

Intentionally causing offense to douchebags however......

 

[Snaggletooth]

While I don't suggest or would ever advocate censorship to outlaw "offensive" speech or literature......I figure it's easy enough to ignore for myself.....I wonder about the notion that a person should decide to say or write anything they want with the full knowledge it may be distressful or offensive to someone. I'm not talking about those fragile "your hairstyle offends me" snowflakes but rather those overt actions sure to cause some folks distress. In the "short bus" case.....which is probably borderline......my neighbors across the street are caring for their severely mentally and physically handicapped child in their home. They refuse to institutionalize him. He gets picked up by the "short bus" a couple days a week. They've never said anything to me but I know years ago in casual conversation I made an accidental purely conversational reference to a persons actions as "retarded". While they didn't object, I knew immediately by their subdued reaction and quick termination of the conversation it wasn't pleasant for them and even hurtful. Looking at their daily struggle, their wish above all he were "normal" and could speak, laugh, run like the other children.............I felt badly that my words dredged that up for them. I've never again used those terms in jest anywhere in any circumstance.

Goode onya PB, I haatte that worde!  Then I licke to thick I dointte haatte annythig.                  

 

[Snaggletooth]

Agree completely..........completely..........

Adgreede hearre to.                  

 

[pbd]

I believe this was stolen from another thread on this site.

It's kinda become my motto.

 

[Snaggletooth]

I believe this was stolen from another thread on this site.

It's kinda become my motto.

View attachment 245745

I thicke moeste peopel feelle the same waye...... abote themselffes                                    

 

[random]

About being offended.  I recently watched an ABC doco on someone with very visible disabilities.  They seemed to be coping well, but when asked about offensive remarks she gets, she said

"It takes increasing amounts of energy, to not give a fuck".

 

[Snaggletooth]

About being offended.  I recently watched an ABC doco on someone with very visible disabilities.  They seemed to be coping well, but when asked about offensive remarks she gets, she said

"It takes increasing amounts of energy, to not give a fuck".

I licke that oune.....              

 

[Dorado]

 That said - the inverse, people seeking offense where none was intended and responding out of proportion to perceived slights is something I think that we ought to avoid. 

You mean, like in PA ?  ^_^

 

[Snaggletooth]

You mean, like in PA ?  ^_^

I thick so........

 

[egon]

it's all your fault ;-)

It's really not my fault, but I do like to keep poking the wasps' nest.

COME ON!!!!

REDDIT! LINK! NOW!

 

[RedTuna]

America needs bigger short buses.

 

[mad]

While I don't suggest or would ever advocate censorship to outlaw "offensive" speech or literature......I figure it's easy enough to ignore for myself.....I wonder about the notion that a person should decide to say or write anything they want with the full knowledge it may be distressful or offensive to someone. I'm not talking about those fragile "your hairstyle offends me" snowflakes but rather those overt actions sure to cause some folks distress. In the "short bus" case.....which is probably borderline......my neighbors across the street are caring for their severely mentally and physically handicapped child in their home. They refuse to institutionalize him. He gets picked up by the "short bus" a couple days a week. They've never said anything to me but I know years ago in casual conversation I made an accidental purely conversational reference to a persons actions as "retarded". While they didn't object, I knew immediately by their subdued reaction and quick termination of the conversation it wasn't pleasant for them and even hurtful. Looking at their daily struggle, their wish above all he were "normal" and could speak, laugh, run like the other children.............I felt badly that my words dredged that up for them. I've never again used those terms in jest anywhere in any circumstance. 

Why.......would we.......not because of law but because of human compassion and deference to the difficulties of others.....decline to say/do those things? I used to tell my guys "just because it's funny.....and that is funny.......does not mean you should do or say it". Surely we can.....as a compassionate culture distinguish between those things that are offered as snowflake whining and those that have the potential to be legitimately hurtful?

And that's it in a nutshell, well said.