A thought on 'taking offense' and 'sensitivity'

[Edwardo Piet]

Being confident in yourself is one thing, but claiming that nothing offends you is questionable.

I don't know why I'd simply 'be offended', and why that would be a good caring thing. There are more caring ways to react. If it's got nothing to do with moral responsibility and is simply a common way of reacting with empathy rather than necessarily the most caring way, what's the problem?

It's normal to have emotional reactions, if you don't have a negative reaction to anything, you've got a problem.

Of course I have negative reactions to things lol. I feel all kinds of emotions. I just don't get 'offended' by something when if they're right then why should I be annoyed with them...and if they're wrong then if they're opinion is bollocks why the f*ck should I care about their opinion? And why would I let it bother me?

Sticks and stones. Actions can harm me and harm others. And many people are pissed off by insults of course. But insults won't piss me off...so I don't get 'offended' by them...

And all the horrible stuff that goes on in the world...I feel terribly bad about that...naturally - I feel sad that it is all happening...and I feel deeply annoyed at all the people who are contributing to such problems. But I wouldn't say I get simply 'offended' because I think that's a pretty superficial response to the whole thing. What good does getting 'offended' do about all the horror? I feel sad, I get pissed off, I get both at once, I feel empathy for others....but 'offended'? Why would I be simply 'offended'? That seems different to simply caring and having empathy to me...and different to getting 'annoyed' too. 'Offended' seems to include a bit of hatred to me, a kind of "how dare they do that!" thing. Which I think is destructive - as I think revenge is (in and of itself anyway).

I think it's probably because I feel really bad about bad things but: I take absolutely nothing personally. Why should I? What good does it do? How would that make me care more? I care, that's what matters to me.

When a federal lawmaker stands in front of the country and says atheists don't have a place in his country, it's hard not to have a response to that.

I just think they're ignorant pricks. I'm not offended in the sense I don't 'feel offended.' It just sucks (to understate) that they are that way! I wouldn't want to be them! Although if I was I probably wouldn't care! - I'd be them!

When someone says everyone who uses marijuana is supporting the people behind the 9/11 attacks, it's hard to suppress an emotional reaction.

Naturally. But it depends on why you are feeling it. A baby can't get offended by that of course - and that's because there's no belief about the whole thing that causes a emotional reaction. So it depends what you believe about it. I think the whole thing is just as fucking ridiculous as you do, I don't get 'offended' or take it personally though because I don't think any good will come from it. If I could do something about it I would - and despite the fact I deeply hate what they are doing and the way they are, when it's about them themselves - I just think they're ignorant pricks (to understate) and that's why they're behaving like ignorant pricks. Their beliefs are fucked-up and they are driven by those beliefs, so hence - they are therefore fucked-up.

I think there's a discrepency in our definitions of 'taking offense'.

I think so too..

Edit: That said, people take this concept to extremes and start taking offesne on the behalf of others, and that's how we get garbage like the Superbowl 'Nipplegate' and hyper-sensitivity you can see in american media.

Yeah. It's political correctness gone mad!

EvF