Are we being offended too easily?

Stuart · 18-02-2015, 15:12

This isn't about a particular new item, but a lot of news items do seem to be about people being offended by something..

Frankie Boyle (often in the news himself for offending one group or another) has written an interesting essay, at http://www.frankieboyle.com/frankie/free-speech.html, the central point of which is that he believes we, as a people , are becoming too easily offended. Often by things we have not directly experienced, and have no knowledge of apart from what we are told.

There have been several instances where the public has apparently been offended by something that 99% of them only know about through the newspapers. The example he gives was that Tennis player's girlfriend who apparently swore while watching him play. The newspapers actually went to the effort of getting a lip reader in to see what she had said so they could find something for us to be offended by.

Ok, that sort of language is not considered polite or ladylike, but she was not hurting anyone, and since when has being polite or ladylike been a requirement to be the girlfriend of someone famous?

My concern is not individual people, however. As Frankie rightly points out later on, this increasing ability to be offended at the most minor of things is causing us to question what we do. It's making the media less likely to criticise someone (even in satire) in case they cause offence. This is, IMO, damaging society. If the media is unable or unwilling to question what people do, what are they getting away with? If you don't believe that the media can get authorities to actually take action, I'll just remind you about HSBC Switzerland, who were happily helping people evade all sorts of taxes until Panorama got involved.

Kursk · 18-02-2015, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

I agree. While I don't always find Frankie Boyle that funny (he does go over the top with his offensiveness sometimes), I think he h

How dare you end your post in such an abrupt manner. I'm offended that you have fainted on the job or something....

nomadking · 18-02-2015, 15:30

It's a method of oppression. Only certain groups are allowed to be offended and taken notice of. They are "protected species" in that that are not allowed to be criticised for their behaviour.

Kursk · 18-02-2015, 15:34

Personally speaking, I don't like Frankie's remarks about Madeleine McCann. There are plenty of jokes to be made without making those at the expense of a little girl's plight.

jamiefrost · 18-02-2015, 15:37

Agree completely, we do seem to get offended at the slightest thing and to suffer from complete over reaction.

A lot of this seems to be driven by the media, along the lines of click-bait articles and social media as well where the main purpose seems to be attracting as many comments as possible.

Now it's a chain reaction where anybody with the slightest link and a lot with no link whatsoever have to be seen agreeing, or there just as bad if not worse than the original 'offender'.

My first reaction to these 'articles' is more and more of 'get a life' and 'get over yourself'.

J

Taf · 18-02-2015, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

It's a method of oppression. Only certain groups are allowed to be offended and taken notice of. They are "protected species" in that that are not allowed to be criticised for their behaviour.

Quite true IMHO. For instance, in ASDA today I stopped to look at the halal meat counter, and a female shopper of a certain religious cult told me (very loudly) that "This meat is not for the infidel, buy haram (dirty) meat from your own area!"

"How do you know that I am not a member of your cult?" I replied.

She then obviously took offence at being talked-to by a man. Very loud offence! I was asked to move along by a member of staff, and was told I should be "ashamed of myself" for insulting the "poor lady".

Pierre · 18-02-2015, 16:46

No, we a free to be offended as much as we want.

What the real issue is, is that people then expect some kind of restorative action because the offence that has been taken. When none is due.

Being offensive is not a crime ( unless it breaches any laws such as public decency, racism etc etc)

Sirius · 18-02-2015, 16:48

What offends me are those who are offended on behalf of others because they think they need to be offended on there behalf

Osem · 18-02-2015, 17:03

I find the notion that you're offended by the thought that other people are offended on behalf of those they feel ought to be offended but aren't, highly offensive...

But it does seem to be a bit of a growth 'industry' in words which highly emotive words are often employed with little foundation, just like 'traumatised', 'hate crime' and any number of '...isms'.

**Damien** · 18-02-2015, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

What offends me are those who are offended on behalf of others because they think they need to be offended on there behalf

I think this assumes that only the target of something can be offended by it. It's not being offended on someone's behalf, It's simply being offended. I.E You don't have to be Jewish to find anti-Semitic remarks offensive.

Gary L · 18-02-2015, 17:25

Can anyone think of anything you can do that's "offensive" that wouldn't be seen as offensive. and better still. wouldn't offend someone who's being offended on someone elses behalf?

If I have offended anyone for trying to find out what can be offensive. with the intention of not being offensive. then maybe you're too fat or your nose is massive.

Osem · 18-02-2015, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

Quite true IMHO. For instance, in ASDA today I stopped to look at the halal meat counter, and a female shopper of a certain religious cult told me (very loudly) that "This meat is not for the infidel, buy haram (dirty) meat from your own area!"

"How do you know that I am not a member of your cult?" I replied.

She then obviously took offence at being talked-to by a man. Very loud offence! I was asked to move along by a member of staff, and was told I should be "ashamed of myself" for insulting the "poor lady".

Yes well you know you're not allowed to be offended don't you.

Gary L · 18-02-2015, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

Quite true IMHO. For instance, in ASDA today I stopped to look at the halal meat counter, and a female shopper of a certain religious cult told me (very loudly) that "This meat is not for the infidel, buy haram (dirty) meat from your own area!"

"How do you know that I am not a member of your cult?" I replied.

She then obviously took offence at being talked-to by a man. Very loud offence! I was asked to move along by a member of staff, and was told I should be "ashamed of myself" for insulting the "poor lady".

Any other man would have took her outside and threw stones at her

heero_yuy · 18-02-2015, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

Any other man would have took her outside and threw stones at her

Or got his whip out and layed on with a will.

joglynne · 18-02-2015, 18:00

I don't, on the whole, have a problem of people being genuinely offended whether it is about something that relates directly to them or on behalf of others. If only those concerned had the right to be offended then many issues would never be discussed in the open nor would many victims be brave enough to feel they had the public backing to voice their feelings.

That said I find it astounding how many people seem to enjoy a good rant without bothering to question the validity of the subject they are offended by. I even wonder quite frequently if some people only read the headline, never bothering to read, or watch, whatever it is they have been prompted to find offensive.