AIBU to mourn the loss of underthinking and lightheartedness

[unique78]

So many people are so serious, blunt and tactless these days. I find myself becoming more insular in case I inadvertantly upset someone. Social media is a hotbed of unpopular opinions, is this because people have to constantly watch what they're saying in real life?

For example, at a BBQ a few years ago a song came on that I didn't like, so I said something along the lines of 'this is crap'. I was then lectured by someone I barely knew about everyone's taste being different, and that was a good thing, and maybe I should be careful not to upset people who liked the song...which I guess was her. But seriously?

AIBU?

A lot of people claim that they’re “just having a laugh” or “joking” and other people “need to lighten up” to try to excuse offensive or tactless opinions. And frankly, people who feel they need to avoid social company for fear of inadvertently upsetting people with what they say are quite frequently people who say offensive and tactless things. It’s genuinely not a problem I’ve ever had, because I don’t. If it happens to you a lot then it might be time to reevaluate whether what you’re saying is actually lighthearted or whether it comes across as rude.

It's political correctness gone mad/wokeness/millennials/the fault of TRA's etc.

I agree that a lot of people are very OTT in taking offence over the slightest thing, often on the behalf of hypothetical other people they think things would offend. Nobody has the inalienable right to never hear anything they find offensive. I'm not sure how that is 'blunt and tactless' though. Arguably what you said about the song was a tad blunt and tactless. The kind of thing you'd happily say among friends, but is at least verging on being a bit rude if talking to people you barely know.

someone who is upset that another person doesn't like a song they like needs to get out more, what a ridiculous comment

YANBU! To be honest I'm one of those blunt people who doesn't think too much about political correctness. I wouldn't want to hurt or upset but I'm happy to be very honest, not sure if it's age or the menopause or just being fed up with tip toeing around truths for fear of a lecture from someone.

Why are you so fearful of a lecture though? You're happy to express that the song is crap but don't want any further conversation? I don't think it's bad people being challenged. If someone says something factually incorrect should you just shut up? Or is the issue that blunt tactless people now have to consider other people? Because sensitive tactful people are speaking up? Incidentally if you'd said I hate this song you'd probably not have had a lecture.

YANBU. You only have to look at some of the threads on here recently. OP posts a perfectly innocuous lighthearted thread, and half the replies are telling her she is wrong, or there is no point to the thread, or some other criticism. A lot of people seem to be unnecessarily nasty at the moment.

This is why I tend to stick to family and very close friends for most of my fun socialising. Having fun shouldn't be hard work.
If somebody said a song was crap, that I loved. I'd laugh it off and possibly make fun of their favourite songs.

In the interaction you described, the blunt tactless person was you, though? You’re complaining that you don’t get to be as blunt and tactless as you like without being pulled up on it?