The Power of Being “Offended” in Order to Shut Down Political Debate

Townhall ^ | 4-22-13 | Rachel Alexander

[ReformationFan]

Has society really become quite thin-skinned, or is acting “offended” a new tactic that is being used to shut down legitimate political debate? Progressives are increasingly claiming to be offended whenever those on the right disagree with their left-wing positions. It doesn't matter what the issue is; the left will divert a legitimate political debate into an accusation that the right disagrees with them because they are full of hate towards them. This puts the right on the defensive, and removes the real debate from discussion. It then becomes difficult for the right to ever prevail with their position, because to do so would mean “hate” had won.

[Elsie]

Yes I nkow- which is why i made the joke about hating haters- which makes me a hater- which means UI must hate myself too-

Is that anything like; ahem; self-abuse?

I hear one can go BLIND from that!

[Elsie]

(And we all know that bullying only works when the bullied cowers.)

And just HOW are the bullied to react to bullying?

Just ask your local school system.

[Elsie]

...it offends me when I climb into my 02 Dodge PU withe 360K miles on it.

Which OBVIOUSLY has a CARBON FOOTPRINT the size of GODZILLA!

[Elsie]

Has anyone on the left ever listened to the MSM?????

Probably not; as they all are busy TALKING there!

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Has society really become quite thin-skinned, or is acting “offended” a new tactic that is being used to shut down legitimate political debate? Progressives are increasingly claiming to be offended whenever those on the right disagree with their left-wing positions. It doesn't matter what the issue is; the left will divert a legitimate political debate into an accusation that the right disagrees with them because they are full of hate towards them. This puts the right on the defensive, and removes the real debate from discussion. It then becomes difficult for the right to ever prevail with their position, because to do so would mean “hate” had won”

I have experienced this personally here in Maryland discussing voting and voting regulations.

I got : “I am offended...” and got a lecture about voting in the South in the 1960s before he was even born.

[mylife]

☺

[NRA1995]

The phony offensive ploys must stop. We are not a nation of crybaby fourth graders.

Ummmmm...yes we are.

[Wordkraft]

I was in a “discussion” with a lib a while back and, after I made a point, he replied with, “I am offended by what you just said.”

When I responded with, “You’ll get over it,” and smiled, I thought his head was going to explode. Several people who were listeniing just started laughing.

It was sweet.

[Still Thinking]

Well, my point was that they’re trying to have it both ways. They’re trying to advance a policy agenda, which would require discussion, but then they claim the discussion offends them. I realize this is just a debate trick, but so what? Like most debate tricks it’s based on a fallacy. They can’t have it both ways. If discussion is to rough and tumble for their delicate souls, we can just leave the policy the way it is. But they don’t get to change it AND shut down debate.

[Amendment10]

Yes, guys will typically do anything to keep a lady from becoming noticeably upset with them, at least in public.

I thought that the following line was from one of William Shakespeare's plays, but evidently not.

"Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned," spoken by Zara in Act III, Scene VIII, The Morning Bride, William Congrave, 1697.

[Elsie]

I understand.

[ReformationFan]

“But they don’t get to change it AND shut down debate.”

But that’s the way they want it. After all, they “know better” than us.

[Elsie]

[Still Thinking]

Well, it’s not the way **I** want it. And no one died and left them in charge.

[ReformationFan]

“And no one died and left them in charge.”

Oh that statement will definitely “offend” them.

[Still Thinking]

Oh, damn, the one chink in my armor! I might offend a leftie!