To be exasperated with posters who refer to ‘the terminally offended’?

[BernardBlacksBreakfastWine]

Been lurking on a couple of threads recently and I just get so frustrated by posters who use these phrases:

”People are offended by EVERYTHING these days.”

”Snowflake”

”The terminally/permanently offended”

etc

It’s just so empty and pointless; you could equally have used these phrases against, say, people objecting to page three photos a few years ago (and, to be fair, some of these posters probably did).

People get so angry when prejudice is pointed out to them. You just know they’re aching to say “This is political correctness gone mad!” but they at least know that’s been discredited, so they pull out one of those other meaningless catchphrases.

AIBU to wish that people could actually articulate a reason that people shouldn’t be offended by insidious prejudice rather than just slinging pointless insults?

@LancashireTart

The fact that you regard my opinion as absurd says more about you than anything else

Explain how it’s not absurd to assert that ‘society knows what’s offensive’ as if it’s an objective fact that everyone agrees with when this whole thread is predicated on the basis that there is disagreement about what is offensive and what isn’t !

That’s what’s absurd. I dare say you won’t respond because you don’t actually have an argument, so happy flouncing!

I think that's a bit harsh.
There are some things that no one disputes are offensive. There are some things that very few people think are offensive.
With the "minor" offences like the CP advert, no matter how many pages of MN we debate them for, they're never going to be in the same category as shouting racist abuse in the street. I'm happy to debate stuff endlessly (clearly) but I'm not surprised or concerned that many people will just say "this is BS I'm out".

Societal views about what is (and isn’t) offensive are constantly changing though. Different sectors of society will have different ideas about what is “obviously” offensive and what is debatable. It is through conversation, debate and argument that ideas about what is acceptable become mainstream. It isn’t so long ago that racial or homophobic slurs were in common usage, and were widely accepted (despite the offence to those they were aimed at). Those who took offence at, or just called out, that sort of behaviour were also once in a minority. (And, for balance, there are also examples the other way of things once seen as offensive, now accepted.)

To suggest there is a hard and fast rule, from which those who deviate are “just looking for offence” is absurd. And to dismiss the OP as looking for negativity, depressing others and like a flat earther, is both inaccurate and unnecessary.

Are you seriously suggesting the majority of society doesn't know that blatant racism and sexism is offensive?! You really are the gift that keeps on giving. 😂

I know you're very easily offended but you really should calm down. You're getting yourself worked up about nothing (yet again) and it isn't good for your blood pressure.

Yay! Knew you’d be back 😂

I get that you’re trying to be clever/condescending etc, but you’re single/handedly proving the exasperating nature of the “Oh you’re you’re permanently offended” crowd by not engaging.

That’s what’s exasperating! Not the fact that you don’t agree with everything I think has a measure of offence!

My very first post was about how exasperating it is when people don’t argue their case but just blurt out “snowflake” instead. That’s what you’re doing 🤷‍♀️

I’m very ready to admit that boundaries around what is deemed offensive shift according to era and perspective. I’m only asking that people engage with this and argue their point.

You, instead, state that there’s an accepted body of material that just IS offensive! And you don’t think that’s absurd?

You can carry on with the ad hominem attacks if it makes you feel better. But you’d do better in the actual discussion if you, you know, put forward an argument.

You, instead, state that there’s an accepted body of material that just IS offensive! And you don’t think that’s absurd?

I think there's a difference here between "a body of material that just is offensive", which implies we know exactly where the boundary lies and we can easily see what falls either side of that boundary, and the claim I believe LT is making that there are some things that are clearly within that boundary and everyone agrees are offensive.

Well, of course. With respect, I made this point many pages back. The existence of this key area of offensiveness on which everyone agrees sort of, logically, implies that there must be some grey areas around its edge? Unless it goes ‘inoffensive… inoffensive… inoffensive’ and then suddenly there’s a hard, undeniable boundary that marks where ‘offensive’ starts?
It's really the grey areas we’re discussing, surely?

Quoting myself here, but this is the post I was just referring to.

Yeah I thought LT was just saying there are some things that we know are offensive without long drawn out debates (and presumably they also think there are also things that are grey areas and things that are clearly inoffensive).

I'm not wading back through to double check that though.

Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.

@BernardBlacksBreakfastWine is doing yeoman service here but there is no point engaging in a reasoned debate with LT. They either can’t grasp the issues on an intellectual level or they won’t grasp the issues because they can’t afford to lose the argument. So dear Bernard, don’t cast your pearls before LT.

I really have enjoyed getting to read the many thoughtful posts on this thread, though.

How am I not engaging? I've given you examples and I've explained how and why you're wrong. Yet you aren't engaging in the points I've made.

You're getting yourself in such a muddle to the point where you're not making any sense and making claims about me that are actually only relevant to yourself.

Perhaps you should have a break from Mumsnet for a while because it obviously isn't doing your coherency any good.

Love and hugs. 😘

Thanks @pikkumyy77

The fact that she thinks she’s engaging but is just making silly little put-downs tells us a great deal.

Never mind 🤷‍♀️