How easily offended are people?

The Coffee Shop
1

My thought’s here were triggered by some lawsuit that a polling place somewhere was “unconstitutional” because it was in a church. During the discussion surrounding the lawsuit the idea that the people that filed the suit were offended by the content in the church, crosses, anti abortion stuff etc etc.

My question here is not whether this particular case is correct or incorrect or even the facts on this case as much as the question of what people are offended by and how others and society in general should react to those that are offended.

As with all things there needs to be some “line in the sand” that probably shouldn’t be crossed. Not being easily offended I have a hard time pinpointing these lines. For instance in the above case I would not ahve been “Offended”. This of course tried to make me think of a polling place setting that I would be offended in…and I couldn’t come up with one.

IMHO we have swung way to far in order to protect the “Offendable”, in essence limiting the choices of many to protect a few. Example of “Happy holiday’s” versus “Merry Christmas” springs to mind this time of year.

This may be a bit rambling but I’m curious to find out, hopefully with some actual serious response, what falls under the definition of “offensive” and how “Offensive” should something be before we decide policy and legislation should take place to protect people from it?

~Matt

2

I’m not familiar with the lawsuit you mentioned, but I wonder if the content in the Church was placed there specifically for the occasion of the elections. In that case, it may have been the intent that was offensive rather than the content itself. Anyway, I’m not easily offended by stuff like that, and I have trouble relating to people who feel like they have a right to not be offended.

3

My personal belief is that people being “offended” has gone way, way over the top. Everyone needs to lighten up just a touch, you know?

Witness the airport where a Rabbi apparently had complained about Christmas trees and wanted a Menorah displayed as well…the airport’s response was to pull everything.

That’s the Christmas…er, Holiday spirit for you!

4

Add another example to the list – the rabbi who threatened to sue if an airport did not take down a “Christmas Tree” because the airport is a public place. I really would like to see the airport keep the tree up, and give some type of nod to other religions.

Mike

5

Also heard the same story and was part of the impotece for the post. The airport apparently took the tree down on account that they would likely have to represent ALL religions in some manner. Again, prayer in school, school plays, 10 commandments in court rooms, many sexual harrasment suits and the lit goes on and on and on.

I’m in full agreement that things are way over the top, but I have no idea how to reverse it. It’s not that we can simply say “Hey screw yourself, nothing is offensive”, because some things do cross the line. But seems to me that the criteria needs to be redefined somehow.

~Matt

6

“How easily offended are people?”

I am offended by that question.

7

Personally, I wouldn’t be offended voting in a Christian church or a Mosque or where ever as long as I had faith that it was legit.

Would any Christians on the forum be offended voting in a Church of Satan surrounded by satanic messages etc? Who would vote in a Mosque? Who would vote in a KKK place (where ever they meet). Is the ability to understand why someone can be offended related to whether you are personally ok with what it is the other person is offended by?

8

Who would vote in a KKK place (where ever they meet).

Michael Richards and Andy Dick are no longer allowed to have polling places in their homes…

I will be here all week!

Mike

9

**But seems to me that the criteria needs to be redefined somehow. **

I guess the problem is multiple—it’s either a situation of person “A through Y” not being offended, but there’s person “Z” who does take offense, voices that, and then the other 25 have to bear the brunt of one person’s thin-skinned-ness.

Gross oversimplification, of course, but hopefully it makes sense.

I like Dan’s definition of what is not the right thing to post here and wish it could be somehow applied to everyday life—can’t truly define what might be offensive, but I know it when I see it.

Part of this also stems from the “victim mentality” in that it’s easier for some to say that because something offends them, it gives then carte blanche to do—or not do—all sorts of things. And to sue for it in many cases.

10

“impotece for the post”

This post needs Viagra? :slight_smile: Impetus.

On topic, people are either too easily offended, or they want to make a name for themselves. The Rabbi (according to the impressions the news reports give) immediately went to a lawyer and threatened to sue. Lawyer now says airport overreacted and made Jewish people look like Grinches. It seems to me much of the “offense” people take to certain things are typically designed to garner attention and/or money. You never know when your “cause” will be picked up by a news agency and you are suddenly a hero for some segment of the population.

The best in that story is that the airport workers took up a collection and bought tiny trees for all their workstations at the ticket counters.

11

It kind of cuts both ways. There are religious groups that freak out anytime they see a naked body or hear a swear word. These groups would be just as eager to limit your choices when it comes to material that offends them.

12

Absolutely agree, and thus my desire to discuss the issue. In today’s society it seems everyone is “offendable”. Certainly there are many crass individuals that are indeed offensive, either by word or by action. Unfortunately I only have my own, fairly short, life and history to use for comparison. It does seems that even in my lifetime we have made major changes in our attempt to “protect” the offendable individual at major some or alot of expense to society and individuals.

As a fairly young kid I remember my mom, a fairly devote Christian…at the time, getting fairly upset over the term “X-Mas”…“Their trying to take “Christ” out of Christmas”. Even at the age of 6-7 I was pretty sure there wasn’t some great conspiracy to remove “Christ” from Christmas and that in most cases there just wasn’t enough room to fit “Christmas” on the letter board. None the less trying to convince her of that was futile. Since that time there has actually been people “offended” that have demanded that “Christmas” be removed from airports or that “Equal time” be given.

~Matt

13

**Would any Christians on the forum be offended voting in a Church of Satan surrounded by satanic messages etc? Who would vote in a Mosque? Who would vote in a KKK place (where ever they meet). Is the ability to understand why someone can be offended related to whether you are personally ok with what it is the other person is offended by? **

(Not directed at you, just adding on to the last post)

Are people afraid of voting in a church? Do they think those horrible Christian values might rub off on them? Do they walk around the block so they don’t have to look at those mean Christians who by building a church are obviously trying to force their views on other people? My heart bleeds for those poor, poor people who are constantly being indoctrinated against their own will. When will this inhumanity stop?

I just don’t get people sometime.

Christmas is a holiday to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth whether you believe in him or not. He was born, he had a huge impact on civilization, get it over already. A Christmas tree is a symbol, it doesn’t mean you are proclaiming your faith in God and there are some people who do not believe in God and they have a Christmas tree.

I think some think that if they work hard enough to remove the word Christmas, remove any reference to God from our money, schools, parks etc., then it will be like Jesus was never born.

Imagine how great this world would be without Christians. Let’s get rid of all those faith based charities, the orphanages, food banks, women’s shelters etc.

Imagine how great it will be where our orphans can be raised in all the atheist orphanages, the poor can be fed in our atheists food banks and the abused women can find refuge in the atheists shelter.

**I’m sure, anyday now, all those so bent on the elimination of faith will start a huge social movement to care for those less fortunate. **

Instead of being offended and whining to anyone who will listen, I’d love to see those who spend so much time trying to remove God from their lives do something productive.

It will take more work, it will take the focus off their poor lot in life and it will take caring for others, but I’m sure they can do it.

14

Easily offended or refusing to let it slide? The Constitution accomodates this human trait quite well.

Unfortunately I have a lot of experience with amorphous, hard to define, and thus hard to reign in, prejudice. I think you’re right it cuts both ways. Neither side can just let things slide when it comes to promoting their brand of human tribal “tradition.”

It’s just X-mas trees at an airport to one person, to another, a clear favoring of one group and a diminishing of another. Isaac Newton might be surprised but socially, as well, every action tends to have an equal and opposite reaction.

It’s not a given that because I happen to be on the seemingly ubiquitous team and my intentions are good (to me), that favoring my group isn’t at the incidental “cost” of another.

15

Nice post Casey.

16

Would any Christians on the forum be offended voting in a Church of Satan surrounded by satanic messages etc? Who would vote in a Mosque? Who would vote in a KKK place (where ever they meet). Is the ability to understand why someone can be offended related to whether you are personally ok with what it is the other person is offended by?

I initially thought that I would have no problem with officially voting anywhere, but after your post I’m forced to reconsider. I would feel uncomfortable about voting in a church of Satan or a hall filled with KKK posters. I wouldn’t mind voting in a church, school or mosque. I wouldn’t want to vote in a surroundings that I was not comfortable in.

I don’t consider myself to be a Christian but I guess I am more mainstream than I thought.

17

It seems there are people that go out of their way looking to be offended. Sometimes I think we’re becoming a country affraid to stand for anything for fear of offending anyone. I think tolerance, which was once one of our country’s greatest strengths, will ultimately be our downfall.

18

*I wouldn’t want to vote in a surroundings that I was not comfortable in. *

Thank you for an honest response. I would be curious if any other Christians on the board would be willing to answer the question. Would anyone feel uncomfortable voting at a venue that didn’t necessarily align with their belief system? If so is that ok?

19

There aren’t a lot of places I jwould feel “uncomrtable” voting, however I respect that religious iconography might make someone else fee uncomfortable. How hard is it to keep it neutral (as it should be)?

20

Add another example to the list – the rabbi who threatened to sue if an airport did not take down a “Christmas Tree” because the airport is a public place. I really would like to see the airport keep the tree up, and give some type of nod to other religions.

Mike

Actually, that’s what the Rabbi wanted the airport to do…and they wouldn’t…the airport officicial was quoted as saying something like this…that this is the busiest time of the year and the employees don’t have time to be cultural anthropologists

I can’t find the link to the CNN article right now, but if I do, I"ll post it.