Taking Offense for Fun and Profit

Reaganesque | 07/24/07 | Reaganesque

[Reaganesque]

Taking Offense for Fun and Profit

 

Have you seen the bumper sticker out there that says “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention? Living in Minneapolis, I see that one rather frequently along with “Hate is not a family value”, “Would Jesus Discriminate”, “Buck Fush” and myriad other erudite and intellectually stimulating bumper stickers from our friends on the Left that express just how outraged they are at… well…everything.

To hear them talk, you might get the idea that the Left believes that life is one big series of unending injustices and that this profoundly bothers them. But you would not be entirely correct.

 

While I believe that the majority of Leftists out there do in fact have this world view and are legitimately upset about their core, pet issues, many on their side of the aisle do not. For many on the Left, particularly in the leadership and activist groups, taking offense is a political weapon. What politician wants to question the motives of a grieving parent of a slain soldier even when she uses his death to promote the Liberal agenda? Who wants to oppose legislation when the Left successfully frames the debate in terms of “if you oppose this you favor discrimination/starving children/racism/global warming/denying medicine to the elderly/kicking little puppies and fluffy kittens, etc.”? What better way to bend people to your will, political or otherwise, than to have them do so voluntarily?

 

It is a very effective weapon. It plays on the natural desires of human beings to not be seen as “unfair” or “mean”. No reasonable human being wants that. We all want to be loved, it’s a basic human instinct. So, many go through their lives trying their best not to offend others, particularly politicians. The problem with this natural conflict avoidance is that the unscrupulous can take advantage of it.

 

Taking offense is a deliberate, conscious choice, not a natural reaction. Natural reactions to life’s unforeseen happenings can include: anger, surprise, joy, sadness, fear, laughter, disappointment and shock. Being offended is a conscious decision you make as to how you will deal with your anger, fear, surprise and so on. People choose to be offended, whether they know this or not. There are those take offense because of depression due to physical or psychological illness but the majority of offense taking is done deliberately. However, there are those who consciously recognize that being offended automatically gives the offended person great power; the power to manipulate others to do their will. Liberal leaders and activists have realized this and are employing this tactic as often as possible.

 

For years, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have both made a living off of taking offense. They have amassed great personal fortunes and fame by feigning or threatening to take offense in order to encourage large “donations” to their “cause” from large corporations and politicians. Atheists are perpetually offended at the mere existence of organized religion and use this to remove any traces of religion from public life. In the debate over illegal immigration, left-wing activists produced an unending stream of aggrieved Mexicans whose families were being “torn apart” because the US was heartlessly and unreasonably insisting that immigrants obey the law.

 

So, how does one deal with someone who seeks out offense as a means to gain power over others and how can we discern them from those who are sincerely offended? First, and most obviously, is to make every reasonable effort not to offend. Make sure you’re doing the right thing first and the phonies will become much more evident to you and to those around you. Simply being a good person can have very practical benefits.

 

Second, stop worrying about what others think about you. It is not selfish to focus on yourself first. If you can overcome your flaws and inhibitions, that example, that energy can be passed on to those around you. Seek to self-improve and you’ll find that your surroundings have suddenly and inexplicably improved as well. If you are confident that you are doing the best that you can do, the opinions of others will not weigh as heavily upon you and you will be less vulnerable to attack from the perpetually and professionally offended.

 

Third, realize that pleasing everyone is impossible. Someone will always disagree with you. There’s nothing you can do about that so, get over it. You may as well be surprised at the rising of the sun tomorrow morning. People are people, its going to happen.

 

Lastly, just as taking offense is a choice, so too is deciding not to take offense. In his book “As a Man Thinketh”, author James Allen wrote:

 

CALMNESS of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the

result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is

an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary

knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.

A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a

Thought-evolved being, for such knowledge necessitates the understanding 

of others as the result of thought, and as he develops

a right understanding, and sees more and more clearly the internal

relations of things by the action of cause and effect he ceases to

fuss and fume and worry and grieve, and remains poised, steadfast,

serene.

The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to

adapt himself to others; and they, in turn, reverence his spiritual

strength, and feel that they can learn of him and rely upon him. The

more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his

influence, his power for good. Even the ordinary trader will find

his business prosperity increase as he develops a greater

self-control and equanimity, for people will always prefer to deal

with a man whose demeanour is strongly equable.

Pg. 50-51

 

It is time for reasonable men and women to step forward and refuse to be bullied by those who hide behind the hopeless and the weak or who pretend to be weak themselves in order to get their way. And it’s not just in this country that this effort needs to be made. The power of “victimhood” and “taking offense” has not gone unnoticed by radical Islam. They are masters of portraying themselves as victims while they behead and mutilate innocent bystanders for offenses that occurred as long ago as two millennia. And why shouldn’t they be masters of this technique? They’ve had decades of instruction via the example of our friends on the Left.

 

Enough is enough. We and our leaders need to find the will to say to the perpetually aggrieved, we know what you’re doing and it isn’t going to work anymore. You aren’t really offended, you’re just trying to manipulate. It will be a tough battle but it is one that we must attempt. The country and the world, quite literally, depend upon it.

[Reaganesque]

I'm not sure if this belongs in this forum, if not Admin, please move it to where you think it would be more appropriate. I decided to post this here because I believe that it is important for us to realize this point. It is not a new point as others have pointed this out but it is one that bears repeating. We face a group of people for whom taking offense is a tactic. They don't really feel offended. At least not to the extent that they claim. They are simply trying to dominate the debate. We need to keep this in mind so we can react efficiently and in the best possible manner. That's my view of it anyway.

[Reaganesque]

Ping!

[VRWCmember]

Sounds a lot like points that Ann C has made numerous times (including her analysis of the New Jersey Harpies that caused so much consternation among media pundits).

[Reaganesque]

I haven’t really read Ann Coulter’s book but from what I’ve heard of it, she is right on in this respect.

[Carbonado]

I believe, IMHO, that there two parallel but somewhat different things that you are pointing out about the basic nature of Liberalism and its corrosive effect on our society:

1) Liberalism is a childish, unreasoning desire for perfect FAIRNESS in life, and it will not condone any deviation from their attempts at obtaining that perfect fairness no matter how insane or self destructive it may be, and

2) To a true Liberal their sense of outrage and offense is considered by them to be an unquestioned entitlement, although it is basically a very childish tactic which attempts to shut down any meaningful debate they know that will loose.

What I believe you are seeking is a collective sense of universal standards which used to be taken for granted as a starting point for all discussions such as the one you are making. Liberalism and the media/entertainment complex have been pretty successful at deconstructing and eviscerating any such standards because such standards conflict with their primary Liberal mission of making life PERFECTLY FAIR. “Perfect fairness” cannot accept universal standards because universal standards mean that some situations will have less than “perfect” outcomes, and that is anathema to the Libs sense of desired perfection.

Very good topic though and thank you for posting it.

[boop]

You’re right, but what a liberal considers “fairness” is completely unfair to anyone who values freedom. Is it “fair” that Bill Gates has billions of dollars, while some inner city kid is on welfare? A liberal would say no. I would say it’s VERY fair. Bill Gates created something of value that people wanted and are willing to pay for. If the inner city kid drops out of school, uses drugs, gets pregnant as a teenager, commits crimes, it’s VERY fair that they aren’t going to amount to much. Ironically I agree that it IS unfair that someone like Ted Kennedy is rich, despite being a murdering scumbag, but having him made penniless and thrown in jail doesn’t make my life any better. Wait, maybe it does.

[JCEccles]

Musing on Democrat Black Arts

(with apologies to W.H. Auden)

About suffering, it’s the same sing-song.
Tired old liberals, how quick they abuse
the human condition; how loud they cry
“Bush is responsible!” when some wretch winces from too tight shoes
or gets a nose bleed from too dry air.
How, when Nagin and Blanco were angrily, insistently bawling
for FEMA to blot wet noses, they knew in their bones
that Karl Rove did not specially want it to happen, laughing
maniacally as he packed dynamite on the levees
above the poor places of town.
They always believe
that Calypso Louie’s conspiracy theories will outlast earth.
Anyway, in New Orleans, that waterlogged spot
where the decadence parade goes on as preplanned, and Sean Penn’s
dinghy drifts dribbling curbside on St. Charles;
in a west Texas ditch, meanwhile, everyone turns suddenly
from the onion-eyed hippie; the mainstream media most
surely heard her cry, the forsaken pout.
But for them, Katrina is a most welcome relief; the chiggers bite
as is their wont on liberal pink flesh seeking shade from hot bright
sun; and Soros in his expensive ozone-depleting conveyance
hallucinates a heaven: George W. Bush impeached!
and trundles giddily on.

[Frank_2001]

Well stated!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Did you write this R? It is a very, very good essay against the weapon of political correctness.

[Bob]

Liberalism is a childish, unreasoning desire for perfect FAIRNESS in life...

Please note that, in the libs 'minds', FAIRNESS is defined as equality of outcome, not equality of opportunity.

[Reaganesque]

Thanks and yes I did write it.

[TAdams8591]

Well done Reaganesque. I agree with many of the points in your article.