Is America becoming a place where people are too easily offended?

Question

It seems to me these days that everyone is out looking for a reason to be offended. Have we become a nation that values appeasement over free speech?

Answer 1

Becoming? I believe our country has ALREADY become this type of place.

I absolutely refuse to be "politically correct". If I see a man in a wheelchair, he's not "physically challenged" or even "disabled", he's f*cking crippled/handicapped, alright? I don't mean this with malice at all, and I'd certainly never scream to him over a crowded room, "Hello crippled man!" But when I see someone like that, I think, "That poor guy--I can't imagine being handicapped and losing the use of my legs."

This is just one example of many. Suffice it to say, I do NOT walk around on eggshells trying not to piss people off for saying the wrong thing and huwting theiw wittle feewings. I speak my mind. It's my right as an American.

Answer 2

I don't think America is becoming a nation where people are being too easily offended... BUT I feel that people, more recently are leaving every trace of humanity in them and feel that it is okay to say or do things that will hurt other people, without a care about what others might feel.

Answer 3

In the past,women and minority groups would not speak out against offensive language because they were intimidated by society. Now they are speaking out. Freedom of speech may give you the right to say anything you want, but it also gives offended people the right to criticize you for doing so.

Answer 4

It all depends how free speech is worded and delivered. If it is worded and delivered to offend, it will. If it is worded and delivered to express a feeling or belief than it should not offend. Some people are just offended by anything different than their own thoughts and beliefs.

Answer 5

Yeah, someone somewhere found a long-lost amendment to the constitution that was "The freedom to not be offended".

It is right behind the "Separation of Church and State" amendment.

Answer 6

Yes.. it is extremely serious and one of the several things that is bringing the U.S. DOWN.. It is called freedom and it is destroying us.... Just yesterday..a school bus driver wore a santa hat and a beard .. oneof the snotty nosed brats comlained to his parents that it offended him and the driver was fired.. It should never have happened.. The driver should have been(in a civilized society) been commended and the child should have been taken out behind the wood shed and whipped

Answer 7

It's just another way to say, Divide and Conquer. I think the church, Fox Hole news, Rush, etc. , are on a mission to make this happen. But it can't happen without the sheeple to fall right into it. One sheeple jumps the fence, and the rest follow. Hitler was very much aware of this phenomenon.

Answer 8

Because unfortunately, in the past, people were really careless and hurtful with the things they said AND they tried to pass these racist, sexist, homophobic views off as fact. Now we are paying the price for our past and asking people to be a little more sensitive is a small price to pay for other's stupidity.

Answer 9

Yes and its absolutely frightening the way people are giving up their right to free speech without a fight.

Answer 10

no, i think many things, and things said, are offensive, its maybe now that we are more recognizing them as such
people have a right to speak freely, and others have a right to respond, our social norms, about speech and other things, are changing , evolving, as it should be,,,,, words have great meaning, and a person should be held accountable for their words,,,,,, the old "oh it doesnt mean anything" "sticks and stones,,,,words will never harm me" just doesnt wash anymore,,,,,,words can and do hurt,,,,,,