Posted on 06/17/2013 9:03:37 AM PDT by Kaslin
People are confused about the meaning of the phrase “I’m offended.” Many believe that it is merely an admission of emotional inferiority. To be sure, the phrase “I’m offended” does say something about a person’s lack of emotional strength. But when someone plays the “I’m offended” card it says more about his lack of humility than his lack of emotional stability.
I have heard the phrase “I’m offended” countless times in my twenty years as a college professor. Each incident is unique but reflects a common way of thinking. Consider the common thread in each of the following incidents:
In 1993, I was teaching course in criminology. During the middle of a lecture on Social Disorganization theory, I made an observation about immigration patterns in large cities. Specifically, I said that a rapid influx of immigrants speaking different languages would not translate into solid social cohesion. The lack of cohesion, I explained, would impair community efforts to monitor juvenile delinquency.
It was common sense, of course. But a young black female student raised her hand during the next class meeting and complained. She simply announced that she was offended because my lecture implied that there was a downside to living in ethnically diverse neighborhoods. I replied by saying “It’s true, and that’s all that matters.” In other words, I brushed her off. She never played the “I’m offended” card again.
In 1995, I was teaching a course in juvenile delinquency. I stated that a particular criminological theory (called social strain theory) explained property crime because it placed appropriate emphasis on blocked opportunities, including both educational and employment opportunities. But I also stated that the theory did not explain other types of deviant behavior such as homosexuality or drug abuse.
It was common sense, of course. But a young gay activist came into my office the next day and announced that she was “offended” by my characterization of homosexuality as deviant behavior. So I explained how the definition of deviant behavior applied to homosexuality. I concluded by insisting “homosexual is deviant behavior.” After I refused to apologize, she just got up and walked out of my office. She never played the “I’m offended” card again.
In 2004, I was discussing the wastefulness of our campus Women’s Resource Center. I specifically criticized a group that was paid thousands to speak at the center even after they posted racist advertisements all across our campus. The advertisements showed Condi Rice and Colin Powell standing in cages holding bananas like monkeys. I just thought it was hypocritical to pay a bunch of racist to lecture students on gender discrimination.
It was common sense, of course. But our now-former department secretary calmly approached me the next day and asked me not to talk about my opinion columns in her presence (I also wrote a column about the racist poster advertisement). I refused to back down and instead asked her exactly what views she was trying to prevent me from expressing. Like any good feminist, she ran out of the office crying. She never played the “I’m uncomfortable” card with me again.
The common theme in all of these cases is unmistakable. The person trying to suppress speech in each of these cases was cool as a cucumber. None, not even the secretary who ran crying out of the office, was the least bit unraveled at the time she made the initial declaration of personal offense. In other words, it was a calm, cool, and calculated effort to restrict free expression.
Note that none of their efforts were produced by a simple lack of emotional stability. They were ultimately produced by a lack of humility. The central idea was that their personal comfort was more important than the ideas of another person. And that is in itself a dangerous idea – one that did not subside after they calmed down from their initial feeling of offense or discomfort.
There is another word for what these individuals did. It’s called bullying. And it’s time that liberals began to take an interest in it. They can start by repealing campus speech codes that promise a right to be unoffended to all those who darken the doors of the American college classroom.
Of course, by repealing speech codes, administrators would be admitting that they have not delivered on their promise to produce a more civil academic environment. That would require the kind of humility that few academics possess.
Margaret Thatcher pointed this out often that, tragically, feelings have become more important than ideas. FAME has become more important than ACTION. Social media has only worsened this phenomena.
I like it. I’m sorry someone chooses to be offended ... however; that is ‘on them’, they can stay away.
Ping
The Constitution offers no protection from being offended. It does, however, place a secure armor around the right to speak one’s mind. And that right includes the right to choose the words one uses to express an opinion.
Good post. Thx!
The left’s been using this for years between men and women too.
“My feelings are more important than your logic.”
Been like that forever.
That gal looks famous. Who is she?
I have no clue. Nor any interest in finding out. You sure it's a 'gal'?
I don’t know her name but I think she won the smelly hair award a few months back. That’s why they’re called “dread locks” ;- )
those that get offended so easily were raised to have thin skin....I cannot remember any time I was offended...its giving other people the strings to push your emotions...stupid beyond belief... As a child I was told...don’t be so thin skinned, the world is a tough place.
Yeah, most people don’t see it as being able to be manipulated by others, giving power over yourself to others, weakeness. I think if they did it might change a lot of their behavior.
People who base anything on feelings are total idiots!!!
Funny, isn’t it, how being offended isn’t a two-way street?
If a liberal is offended, the offending activity must be halted immediately.
On the other hand, if a conservative is offended, they’re just a racist/sexist/bigot/homophobe who is attempting to suppress free expression.
I get “offended” when I see politicians and businessmen fold like a card table and apologize every time one of these POPS* complain about some action or statement.
I have yet had to use this, but am patiently waiting for one of them to tell me I offend them.
My response will be along this line: “What actually happens when you are “offended”? Do you break out in a rash, grow warts or a second head? Please explain in detail how you are physically affected, etc.”
* POPS - Professionally/Perpetually Offended People.
I never could understand why someone would want their hair to look like the underside of an old dustmop.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.