Do you have the right to state a strong negative opinion that will offend other people?

Question

It's all very well saying its ok to state an opinion so long as its not offensive to others, but what if you know it will certainly offend some people? Should you lose your right to freedom of expression about what you believe?

This is particularly pertinent in the area of religion, where negative opinions seem to be suppressed out of respect for the hyper-sensitivity of some others.

What is more important? Someone feeling offended that they cannot express a strong negative opinion... or someone feeling offended by what is expressed?

This is a genuine question about our freedoms and priorities.

Answer 1

I see you're thinking about the religious denigration law that Labour may foist upon you poor folks over there.

This "crime to offend" law allows the most easily offended (or those who can most easily fabricate a reason for offense) to shut off discussion of anything they don't like.  This gives them near-absolute power.  A minority could (and would) use such a law to jail anyone not intimidated into silence.

This may be accepted in Communist China or Muslim countries, but it's abhorrent to Western concepts of freedom and it's poison to a democratic society - how can you come to proper conclusions about something if open discussion is prohibited?

Clearly, the right to express opinions is far more important than the right not to be offended.  Let people grow some skins or go someplace where they are spared the travails of a free society.

Answer 2

This is a complicated issue with no clear, easy, correct answer. A great deal depends on the context in which the opinion is expressed, as well as the manner in which it is expressed. These two factors, and probably a bunch of others if you really sit and think about it, contribute as much to the opinion's reception as the actual opinion itself.

If you've ever heard the expression, "it was not what you said, it was how you said it," you know what I'm talking about. One can express a strong negative opinion and still not be disrespectful or offensive to those who would disagree. Unfortunately, diplomacy is usually dispensed with in order to drive a point home.

To answer your question, yes, I believe everyone has the right to express their opinion - positive, negative, in the majority or the minority. However, I believe people should also remain courteous and respectful of others when expressing their opinions. An Atheist has no place walking up to the alter in a Catholic church during mass and denouncing Catholicism.

Actually, I think this is a more difficult issue to resolve in social issues rather than religion. People may feel defensive of attacks on their religions, but it's not a personal attack. I think there's a bigger problem with strong negative opinions being expressed against groups of people based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. This is a personal attack and there is no diplomatic way to express it without offending the target and/or inciting more hate against them.

Answer 3

But why are they offended?

If I get up there and say "All people who follow the [Insert name here] faith are a bunch of scum-sucking sycophants." then they have the right to be offended, as I have insulted them.

If I give a reasoned argument as to why I would find it hard to follow a certain faith, pointing our flaws and contradictions within that given faith, making sure that everyone received the same degree of treatment, they can only be offended by the caliber of the argument, but not at the person.

You can even express it as an open question.

"I cannot understand how a silver chicken, which came out of the fiery volcano, is going to save all of mankind? I don't grasp the concept."

As long as it is kept courteous, I see no problem in an active discussion of the faiths

Answer 4

A wise man once said that everyone is offended by something or other. If someone was offended by my shirt and I stopped wearing it becasue of that, then soemone else could be offended by my trousers, or my shoes, and pretty soon we'll get to the point where people are *really* offended.

So, we are garuanteed to offend someone with everything we say. We all have opinions.

Another wise person once told me that 'opinions are like butt holes, everyone has one'.

Me, I speak the truth of God's word to everyone irrespective of who they are. Those who want to hear will hear, those who don't won't. But I do so circumspectly. I choose when and where to speak. I choose who I will speak to not becuaes of offending, but out of a choice of when it is profitable to do so. I won't waste my time speaking to fools and time wasters.

So go ahead and express your opinion, but know that there will always be those offended by it and they too have a right to express their opinion.

Do we waste our time arguing with their opinion? I don't. Let them speak, they have the right.

And remeber, with freedom comes responsibility. It is not that we should not express our opinions, but that we should do so correctly. At the right time, in the right way, so that others receive our words as words of wisdom or as insights into ourselves and not merely as a threat to their own beliefs. And remember also that there is no such animal as a 'humble opinion'. All opnions are born of our own beliefs and self-judgment. They are determined by our internal ego and are therefore not actually humble at all.

Answer 5

It's a question of balance. Which is the greater priority: the need to express yourself, or the fear of being offensive?

Sometimes people ask such stupid questions, or such unintelligible ones, that they deserve a put-down. But that's not what you meant, izzit?

When I first joined this forum I jumped right into hot topics, like homosexuality or evolution. I tried to state my opinion tactfully but candidly. I knew somebody would be offended anyway. But lately I've stayed away from controversial subjects because I've realized I'm not going to change any minds. Evangelican Christians aren't open to challenges, and for folks who think like I do, I'm just preaching to the choir.

Bottom line: if you want to get embroiled in controversy, by all means state your case - but do it respectfully, and recognize that when you wade into the swamp, someone will get mud on them.

Answer 6

Of course you have the right to give your opinion in whatever way you choose.
If your opinion is given in a way to verbally belittle, harrass or anger others it may however be socially inappropriate.
For example, your at a school play and the night starts off with the U.S. flag and the pledge of allegiance by both students and public. You have the right to yell "I don't think the pledge should be in our schools". Imagine the impact that could create for the very children you were there to support.
The appropriate measures could have been:
The school officials opt not to have it knowing that it is controversial.
The person who was opposed simply stand with the rest of the public, but not put hand over heart and remain silent.

Answer 7

Wouldn't the world be a great place if everyone was tolerant of other people's views and beliefs. I like to think I am but many are not. No problem with people expressing their views, no matter how much I disagree, but some on here seem to enjoy making personal attacks, which are totally unnecessary.

Answer 8

I believe that everybody has a right to an opinion but voicing your opinion especially if as you say is a strong negative opinion should be given a second thought.

We need to remember that in the past people who have voiced strong negative opinions have caused millions of people to die i.e. the Holocaust

Though i have used an example of an extreme situation this did happen because of one man's opinion.

If you need to express a negative opinion it should be smothered with that which is positive as well

Answer 9

That depends on where you are expressing your opinion. If you are on a religious and spiritual forum where you know a good majority of the people reading your "opinion" will get offended, you are only doing it to stirr up an arguement, and not to prove a point. If you don't agree with religion, why go into a religion and spiritual forum, if not to offend people. The people here are not stupid.

Answer 10

There is more bullshit per syllable in the phrase "I respect your beliefs...", or "I respect the beliefs of others..." than any other phrase in the English language... with the possible exception of "I won't cu..." ... never mind.

The phrase is insipid, politically correct garbage, uttered in an insincere attempt to deflect retribution for the offensive words which usually accompany the phrase. Offensive, because the words usually threaten the beliefs of the listener. Any assertion that conflicts with a held belief is a threat... or at least, that is how it is subconsciously perceived by those who are infected by belief systems.

Yep... that's right... infected. Belief systems are an intellectual infection; an infection that inhibits one's ability to employ critical thought. ALL belief systems are stupid and irrelevant, and so is their basis... 'faith'.

Back to "respect the beliefs of others". Why would anyone want to do that? It is condescending... patronizing... insulting... insincere... intellectually dishonest. Oh, the heck with it.. it's a DAMNED LIE. On the one hand, you think that a person's beliefs are WRONG... harebrained... nonsensical fairy tales... and on the other hand, you're going to claim to RESPECT those wrong, harebrained, nonsensical fairy tales? Hah... I don't THINK so.

I have found that it is very useful, though, to respect everyone's right (in the privacy of one's own mind) to delude himself in whatever fashion he sees fit.

As it turns out, respecting the other's right to delude himself has very much the same result as respecting the other's beliefs. The chief difference, which is not noticeable in ordinary discourse, is that the former is intellectually honest and the latter is not. It is not necessary to go around claiming to respect other's beliefs. All that is necessary, really, is to treat people (those who deserve it, at least) with respect.

If I were to announce, every time that I am presented with someone's belief, that I think it is stupid and irrelevant, then in very short order no one would want to communicate with me, other than to tell me to get lost. This will not do, since I am eager to share views, evaluate the viewpoints of others... to learn. In order to do that, it is necessary to be able to communicate in an orderly and socially acceptable fashion. And even the most ridiculous of beliefs may contain some useful information, or present an interesting paradigm (don't wabt to throw the baby out with the bath-water).

Even though I might THINK that all belief systems are stupid and irrelevant, I must still acknowledge and accept the fact that for SOME people, those beliefs are honestly come by, through critical thought and inquiry, and honestly held. I cannot disrespect a person for that, even if I cannot understand how such beliefs can be derived via critical thought. So, the only ones that deserve derision, scorn, contempt and disrespect are those who would not recognize an original thought if it bit them on their collective butts... i.e., adherents to faith-based beliefs.

So... even though I might think that someone's religious beliefs are stupid and irrelevant, I will try not to remind them of that unnecessarily, and I will try not to disrespect them for it (outside of the privacy of my own mind).

What this comes down to, really, is an appeal for intellectual honesty. DO NOT say "I respect your belief." Instead, say something like "I respect your right to believe that, but...", or "I understand that you see that as truth, but...".