Anybody who proposes laws about being offended should have their dick/tits cut off
Being offended is subjective, you can't make laws about subjective experiences it's just plain stupid. Nothing happens to you if you're offended, unless you're a daily fail reader and you happen to spit your coffee over your croissant simultaneously burning your legs and ruining your breakfast.
(Maccy Divided by 0 on, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 0:00, 17 replies)

Can't remember where
but I read "there is usually a big difference between "I'm offended" and "it's offensive".
(M61A1 CUPID- STUNTS, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 4:42, closed)

I'm offended
by people who find offence. They should make finding things people say offensive illegal.
(dchurch bah, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 7:57, closed)

In fact
most people have a reasonably high threshold for taking offence. They're not actually offended, they just have a vaguely defined sense of decorum which is being challenged. They're complaining about the lack of civility.

If the Sun printed the word 'fuck', they would get complaints. The people complaining for the most part would use the word many times, every day.

The point is, and I agree with them, they just want there to be boundries. If nobody cares what is said or written, or flashed in public, we are losing control.

I don't want to read the word 'fuck' in a newspaper, at least not used casually. I have no problem at all in hearing someone say it though.
(username failed moderation, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 9:13, closed)

What if someone states something about you personally, despite that they don't know you, because of what you are, not who you are?
Or, indeed, about your relative, because of what they are, not who they are?
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 9:36, closed)

wh
at?
(username failed moderation, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 10:01, closed)

Well, for example, "You're a man - you wouldn't understand."
Or "You blacks are more musical than white people".

Or "It's immoral for you to be gay."

"Because you're a woman, you can't drive very well."

"You Jews ... " you get the idea.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 10:50, closed)

The problem here is not offence
It's the sweeping sexist/racist/homophobic generalisation. And the fact that they're plain wrong.
(lolwhites, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 11:43, closed)

What's the problem with them?
According to the OP, it's up to you whether or not they're offensive.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 11:49, closed)

Exactly
Which is why the correct response to racism/sexism/homophobia/xenophobia etc is not "I'm offended" but "You are a moron and here's why..."
(lolwhites, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 17:25, closed)

Lolwhites has it right
If someone says something you don't agree with then you don't go running to the police, you act like an adult and say "You're an idiot"
(Maccy Divided by 0 on, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 23:36, closed)

But

If someone walked up to me and the missus and slapped her face with their cock - I'd be offended. I'd probably be so offended that I'd take a cheese grater to their cock and bollocks. By offending me they've caused a response that, at the very least, amounts to assault and, possibly, GBH or even murder.

There are limits to what behaviour people will put up with before responding with violence. For some people, like me, the limits are fairly high. For others, the limits are extremely low. Offensive behaviour that isn't addressed can lead to much more serious offences. That's why we have laws governing certain types of behaviour. You can't go down a street in Brixton shouting "All n***ers are monkeys and should be sent back to Africa". Well, you can, but you had better hope that the police get to you before the locals do.

Cheers
( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 10:11, closed)

You'd be offended
But the issue here is common assault, not causing offence. Same for racist taunts; they're offensive but that's not why they're wrong.
(lolwhites, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 11:46, closed)

"Wait there!"
or do you carry a cheesegrater around just in case?
(username failed moderation, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 14:10, closed)

You've taken that a little out of context
You're talking about someone being physically assaulted, which has caused offence, I'm talking about someone saying "you're a dick" and then the receiver of said insult getting up in arms about it.
(Maccy Divided by 0 on, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 23:38, closed)

Offended
Now I am probably one of the sweariest people I know, but even I was a little taken aback to see the word 'fart' several times in the latest Beano annual!! Not offended, but whatever happened to the innocence of comics?

i also found it a little uncalled for that my local free papers front page, upon detailing how a local model was found in possession of guns/ massive drugs/ Honda Accord ignition key was also found to be in possession of a vibrator and a set of love eggs in the same handbag. Sunday Sport yes - Epsom Guardian... no!!

I am the son of a Daily Mail reader so perhaps it is genetic now I am approaching 40.
(the_icks has the sweet essence of giraffe, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 10:35, closed)

is it
considered subjective to think that murder is ok? after all an eye for an eye etc etc.
(little lord muthafuckin fauntleroy, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 10:44, closed)

Technically
yes, because there is no objective reason to say that "Murder is wrong" only the subjective reasoning to say that "Murder ought to be wrong" for society to live in harmony
(Maccy Divided by 0 on, Tue 27 Sep 2011, 23:35, closed)