It never fails to amaze me how easily offended people are over the dumbest, most benign things imaginable.
No, I'm not talking about the political cartoon from the cover of The New Yorker, I'm talking about really, truly stupid shit.
I've had people take offense that I politely decline the dessert they're serving because I simply don't like the taste of strawberries. I've had people take offense that I don't think Sarah Silverman is particularly funny. I've had people take offense that I no longer get a kick out of 'Scooby Doo' any more. I've had people get offended that I not only don't support their favorite sports team but that I'm not particularly into sports at all.
I've been in conversations where people will scream and shout and get all worked up over which is better, Beatles vs. Stones, Superman vs. Batman, Mac vs. PC...
Don't get me wrong... I'm an opinionated person (some would say TOO opinionated) but at the end of the day, isn't it a little silly to be OFFENDED by someone's opinion? You could say to me "In my opinion, you are an idiot" I would not be offended because I know that I'm not an idiot (a fool, perhaps, but not an idiot). You could say to me "In my opinion your cartoons suck" and while I would be disappointed, I would not be offended because not everyone likes the same things - just like I don't care for strawberries.
Something amazing happened recently... I was having a discussion with a friend of mine over a variety of topics, and on two of those topics we vehemently disagreed with one another on a very fundamental level. And guess what? WE'RE STILL FRIENDS! GASP! We were actually able to debate about a topic, agree to disagree and then just move on as jovially as ever.
It's getting harder and harder to have conversations like that any more because people get offended so easily. When did we all develop such tissue-thin skin? It's depressing to me because when people don't discuss their differences, it feeds into the cycle of misunderstanding that keeps our society from evolving.
I'm sure I'm guilty of it as well, but I like to think that I at least try not to let it control my life.
Anyway... that's my rant for now...
I hope I didn't offend anyone.
2 comments:
I find nothing more stimulating than having a lively argument with someone whose opinions differ from mine. It gives me an opportunity to re-examine my own beliefs, understand that people with opinions that differ from mine may have a well thought out and equally valid viewpoint, and to occasionally revise my own position! Sadly there are very few people who can have this sort of argument without taking it as a personal attack or resorting to personal attacks.
Congratulations. At a deep, personal, basic, fundamental level, this post offends 100% of my sensibilities. You, sir, have besmirched the Internet. I am getting off it right now and I'm not coming back. AOL...? Where's AOL? They're going to hear about this.
Signed,
P.L. Frederick, Esq.
SMALL & big
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