Why are Americans so easily offended?

Question

Race,Religion,Sexuality.
Say something about a "minority" of the above that can in anyway be seen as negative and you are crucified because you have offended someone.
Doesnt seem to be so extreme if a "minority" group were to openly criticize mainstream or the "majority".The society also seems to almost force its citizens to embrace anything that is "different".

I do believe that being open-minded is good ,but is there a limit?
Are there double-standards involved here?
Obviously I answer yes to both questions,but I would like others point of view.Maybe I will learn something.

Answer 1

despite being very consumer driven and mass marketed, americans tend a lot towards individuality, so it's not so much forcing you to be different, it's expecting you not to be the same. tiny difference there.
many americans are also a little jittery at present as the nation is involved in several disputes along the lines of race, religion(outwardly it seems that way) and sexuality with itself, and anything you say on those matters will conflict with someone's viewpoint, so someone will be at your throat. that's just a cost of having a society with freedom to express yourself.

i suppose there must be some limit to being open minded, but i think that limit should only be common sense.
the minority isn't allowed to view their opinions in peace as much as it would sometimes seen, but as i said, america's a little jittery at the moment and doesn't descend on a minority criticizing the mainstream either coz they're right or it's not worth starting another argument over. there is a double standard, but there always is, and here it can go both ways.

Answer 2

We have so many different types of people here that we have to be careful about what we say and do if we're to live together in any sort of peace. It's easy to look at it from where you are and say that we're easily offended, but we're trying to keep a peace that's been nearly impossible to keep in the past. That's what that is.

We also have to learn how to live with each other so we can prosper as such a diverse nation. Most countries don't have that huge difficulty like we do, or they react to it differently (like the Brits and their BNP.)

Answer 3

Well, did you ever stop to think that maybe because we have more different types of Race, Sexuality and different Religions here. Just go to New York or any big city and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Answer 4

Cause deep down, we are all a bunch of bigots in denial. So when we hear bigotry of any sort, we get all fired up and flame everyone in sight.

Nincompoopery probably has something to do with it too.

America just needs to relax.

-Ned