To be deeply offended

[medicmummm]

Is it me, or is it so much easier to offend people now a day.

There are more protected characteristics (rightly so) but I almost feel like I'm always stepping on egg shells and concerned about upset someone.

Does anyone share this feeling?

Who is 'them'?

Pointing out racism when I see it isn't of any financial gain to me, or the vast majority of us, so I'm not sure what you're going on about there.

Who is 'them'?

The industries who benefit from all this fear of offending others.

You've started off by saying that the education is done.

Now there are whole industries not only dedicated to, but profiting from, educating people about racism, sexism, ablism, homophobia etc.

If the education is done how are industries profiting from it?

Everyone is allowed an opinion. But the same freedom that allows you your opinion allows other people to disagree with it as loudly or quietly as they choose. Funny how defenders of 'free speech' often conveniently want it to be a oneway street for them to spew whatever they want without any space for others to give their opposing opinions. More often than not 'cancelling' is really just consequences.

If the education is done how are industries profiting from it?

The education is done. But certain industries continuously ensure that they come up with new ways in which people may feel offended so that they can continue milking it.

But the same freedom that allows you your opinion allows other people to disagree with it as loudly or quietly as they choose

Some are allowed to be louder than others

I don’t find this at all. I think it’s great that people are called out for racism, sexism, ageism, xenophobia, homophobia, discrimination, and so on

About body time

No ot really isn't.

Just look on MN which is generally a pretty woke site.

A recent thread on property with dozens of posters taking the piss out of Indigenous culture and not one of them realised.

Another recent thread where posters were using extremely racist terms with the excuse "I didnt realise, its what I was brought up with".

Another recent one complaining that they didn't feel represented in adverts any more because the adverts were filled with minority groups.

What about schools, my dd was taught fairly recently about how Columbus discovered America, not a single thing was said about the native Americans, or the atrocities those people suffered at his hands.

All of the school house names are from straight, white men who invented things, one of whom stole the invention from a black man. Where's the representation?

Sex education at school - assumes everyone is straight.

I could go on and on about the racism and misogyny and homophobia ingrained in our society.

The education is very far from done, no matter how much you claim otherwise.

Some have been very loud for a very long time.

what you are complaining about is the passing of the mike from
the privileged. A bitter pill to swallow for those used to having the airwaves to themselves.

The education is very far from done, no matter how much you claim otherwise

Your examples are a mixed bag of issues (some are straightforward, others are rather nuanced)

Maybe some further work is needed in some matters, but certainly not to the extent we are seeing currently.

what you are complaining about is the passing of the mike from
the privileged

It's a bit distasteful to seek equality and at the same time talk about 'passing the mike' don't you think? Would you rather some were left with no mike at all? Doesn't seem very equal to me

They are a mixed bag, because it is in every area of society.

Further work is definitely needed, so glad you finally agree.

@WeDontShutUpAboutBruno maybe you should address that with the school as my kids learnt al of it not just parts
Also they don't have house names anymore just colours
Every week the school posts a quote or something from someone who has done something throughout history men , women of all races
So maybe you need to address your school

@WeDontShutUpAboutBruno maybe you should address that with the school as my kids learnt al of it not just parts
Also they don't have house names anymore just colours
Every week the school posts a quote or something from someone who has done something throughout history men , women of all races
So maybe you need to address your school

Useful quote from a court ruling.
Sedley LJ said: "Freedom of speech includes not only the inoffensive but the irritating, the contentious, the eccentric, the heretical, the unwelcome and the provocative, provided it does not tend to provoke violence. Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having. "

• Its not a bizarre take.

Its bizarre that you have so many friends who identify as queer, to the point you simply must speak about them being queer, but are afraid to offend someone (presumably from your friend group) despite your numerous discussions about it.

You're tying yourself up in knots trying to prove that 'woke' culture is affecting you because you can't say what you want.*

Look I'm all for having a conversation about this, clearly we come at this from different angles, but what I'm not prepared to do it talk about this when you are twisting my words and trying to make out I'm saying something I'm not.
If you want to have a conversation, use the words I use, not the words you interpret.

I have not once said I have "so many friends who identify as queer" I simply said I have some friends. I have also never stated "I simply must speak about them being queer" I said it comes up in conversations.
You are making out I'm "tying myself in knots" I'm not at all, I simply answered a question from another poster. There are times when people from within the same community don't agree on the words, it's very hard for people not in that group to know what the right word is to describe or refer to them.

Again, what context would you ever have to describe someone as queer? What conversation would you have where it would need to be said by you?

I'm surprised you didn't mention your friends who identify as queer when previously asked for an example, instead you said something about seeing groups for queer people and not being able to say that if you were ever asked. I would have thought you would have used the real examples in your friendship group tbh.

You're spending more time and effort trying to make the point that you really want to use that word to describe someone as part of some "you can't say anything nowadays" narrative, than you would have used by choosing different language. Why do you want to use it as a descriptor so badly that it impacts your life in any meaningful way?

• Again, what context would you ever have to describe someone as queer? What conversation would you have where it would need to be said by you?

I'm surprised you didn't mention your friends who identify as queer when previously asked for an example, instead you said something about seeing groups for queer people and not being able to say that if you were ever asked. I would have thought you would have used the real examples in your friendship group tbh.

You're spending more time and effort trying to make the point that you really want to use that word to describe someone as part of some "you can't say anything nowadays" narrative, than you would have used by choosing different language. Why do you want to use it as a descriptor so badly that it impacts your life in any meaningful way?*

There was a time I was asked to go to an event by a lesbian friend that doesn't identify as queer, It was mentioned to another friend who then pointed out it was advertised at Queer people, said friend no longer wanted to attend, obviously a conversation about this then took place where the word Queer would have been used several times.
This is just one example of a few but if I was to say we aren't going to this because it's a queer night, is that offensive? Some people would be offended some wouldn't, who do you know who to listen too? The queer people I know would have no problem with me referring to them as queer.

Generally in a conversation you don't say everything all in one go, it's how a conversation progresses, I offered my opinion on this subject, then answered a posters question, I didn't realise at that point I needed to state I had Queer friends, that came about when another posters asked why I would need to have these conversations, so I explained why🤷🏽‍♀️

I don't think it's that difficult to grasp, and I'm not sure what it is your trying to get at by badgering me and twisting my words. I presume you want to put the boot in and tell me I'm an offensive person who wants to openly offend, nothing could be further from the truth, I'm simply saying when members of the same group can't agree on words to describe them then you can't automatically expect those outside of the group to know which is correct or incorrect.

Have you seen the current thread on racism? There are lots of posters saying the ops ex made a racist comment about Chinese people but some Chinese posters saying it's not, and some are saying it is, so again people from the Chinese community are not in agreement about the statement. Now don't twist my words, I'm not advocating for saying racist things, and I personally think it is racist, but I can also understand why some people get confused when hearing differing opinions on the same topic from the same group.

There was a time I was asked to go to an event by a lesbian friend that doesn't identify as queer, It was mentioned to another friend who then pointed out it was advertised at Queer people, said friend no longer wanted to attend, obviously a conversation about this then took place where the word Queer would have been used several times.

So that one occasion (which sounds like it didn't involve your input, and was a conversation about the word rather than you having to use it to describe someone) is your basis for things 'being a minefield'?

Simple answer there, don't use the word to describe anyone, allow people to use the word to describe themselves if they choose. Minefield navigated for you.

What? Passing the mike means taking turns. Did you really expect to have some use of it forever? 😂

*sole

You know what’s distasteful? Your assumption that others should “seek equality”. Says a lot about you. Makes me so, so glad to hear about your discomfort. About time 👏

Passing the mike means taking turns

You don't seem very inclined to be taking turns, quite the opposite

Ok, I'm out.

You twist word to suit your own narrative. You ignore the majority of a post and focus on one aspect which stunningly you can't even get right.
Stop trying to look for offense in every thing someone/I posts, the irony of what your doing on a thread about how easily people are offended is comical, if nothing else it's given me a good laugh tonight.
So thank you, enjoy your night.

That doesn’t even make sense?

Did you want a conversation or just to advertise your bent for bigotry?