how can books be offensive?

Answer 1

some people just have small minds. a writer is entitled to have original thoughts and sometimes people find anything different and unfamiliar to be offensive

Answer 2

Books can be offensive in most of the same ways that people can be offensive. Any offensive thing a person might say can be written in a book. People may also be offended by a book that they feel promotes negative behavior.

Some common examples of things that people might consider offensive in a fiction book are profanity, explicit descriptions of sex, glamorization of criminal activities, racist language and attitudes, themes of magic or the occult, and homosexual content.

Many of the same issues apply when dealing with non-fiction books. A non-fiction book may also be considered offensive if it makes false or controversial claims about a group of people. A lot of people were offended by "The Bell Curve" because it argues that people of some races naturally have higher IQs than people of other races.

Luckily, it's easier to avoid offensive books than offensive people. Anyone reading an offensive book can just close it and walk away.

Answer 3

You would think they couldn't be, since if a person reading one found something 'offensive' about it he/she would simply put it down and leave it alone. I never did understand book banning, and that's one of the reasons.

A book can be offensive to some by the language it uses, the images it calls to mind; even if it simply points out that the reader is exactly the type of person described who is 'left out/evil/not so smart after all,' etc.

That would offend that particular person if they suddenly recognized themselves in descriptions, etc. and felt discriminated against or something. Personally, I think it should help that person... let them in on a chance to change for the better-- self-recognition is a big deal, and can help change low-esteem behavior like bullying, shyness and on like that.

Those who call books offensive are also perhaps reading stuff between the lines of the book that simply are not there. It seems to me this is often the case, anyway. I read the book later and my reaction to it being called 'offensive' is "Huh?"
Books can't be judged by their covers, nor the blurbs written on the fly leaf or back of the book...
Just read a lot and you'll know for yourself what may offend you and why.

Answer 4

They challenge the set ideas people have as to what is right proper and appropriate to write about. Several people think Harry Potter should be banned as it glorfies witchcraft. People feel Huckleberry Finn is offensive as it uses the N word several times.

Answer 5

Maybe by questioning what people think. Some people don't feel comfortable when others make them doubt what they believe, so they attack like a cornered animal. Some people don't like their world shaken

Either that, or they're overprotective parents who think that the content in certain books, like those that talk about sex or homosexuality, is inappropriate, so they get all offended.

Or the book is just trash by a highly opinionated person that insults everyone and everything on the planet, including the author herself.

OFF-TOPIC: Super_deformed, your answer made me laugh!! Nice one. :)

Answer 6

how can words be offensive? i could give some examples but then I'd offend and get deleted. what is a book but a collection of words and as long as we let words offend, books will always be on someone's list to ban.

Answer 7

Some people can find anything offensive, especially people with really small minds.

Answer 8

well I'm reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee right now for my english class and I see the "N" word alot in there. I'm not black but, I still think its a little offensive to those who are black.

Answer 9

Same as how all things are offensive-people all have different opions.

Answer 10

They go against the beliefs of somebody - that's why the Nazis burned and banned books that conflicted with THEY believed. Unfortunately, some people still have a Nazi mindset.