I'm Offended

Whenever I find myself becoming offended, I stop and look both ways.

Being offended might have been a useful reaction at one point in time, but what is it accomplishing now? Being offended usually deprives the object of your offense of any dialogue, and of the use of reasoning to make counter-statements.

Look how this plays out in culture. It allows you to shut off the intentions and message of someone, in order to focus on how that person's point of view has stepped on your's. It only encourages those snarky bumper stickrs that mae people angry which makes them want to respond in kind, which makes for an angry lack of discourse where sloganeering replaces dialogue.

Look how this plays out in politics. It only reinforces the divide between our left/right system, leaving everyone to believe that there really are only to ways to frame an issue. Or at least only two that have a chance of happening.

Quit being offended, even when the offense is meant to harm you. By being offended, you only help build steam for those looking to offend. And go ahead, make offense! Just make sure that you can back it up with a sensible conversation where each participant walks away with a better understanding of what the other has said.