Not to impugn them, for I thank them for taking the time to point it out, but I feel it strengthens the divide between sexualities. And I feel it implies that we are pitiful, and easily offended, and perhaps we are. But I don't see the need, it's not like I'm going to be hurt if you offend me. I try to answer questions by the question asked and only resort to not doing so when the question is obviously out of line.
But maybe I'm not understanding this. Any insight?
2007-10-17 15:57:04 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
I wasn't intending to center it around me, but I probably didn't make my question clear enough. I suppose it could be related to being politically correct.
2007-10-17 16:09:23 · update #1
With the onset of the whole politically correctness thingy people became over-sensitive to criticism, so many feel that they need to apologize. It doesn't hurt anything and I think more often than not those who try to apologize do actually mean well. Those who don't, well, we can tell from their tenor of writing.
Sometimes I do the same, as words can be misconstrued, and there can be more than one meaning to them. Other than that, some people just have thin skins.
I think you're fine. Have some cake, Dearest. You'll feel better.
2007-10-17 16:33:08 · answer #1 · answered by Mama Otter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thing is, what may not offend you may be offensive to other people. Just as you may not be hurt when offended, but others may.
People often tread carefully around subjects that they are unfamiliar with, and may say stuff which they feel are rather general, or act in a way to preserve the other person's dignity.
So, if the person you are talking to is a new acquaintance, he may act such. And he's just being polite.
2007-10-17 23:07:22 · answer #2 · answered by AlexMarques 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I think we LGBT's really are too easily offended at times. I never saw the big deal about that Superbowl Snickers commercial; I thought it was just funny and stupid.
And on this site alone, I see far, far too many people jumping down people's throats if they mention they're straight, or if they're asking advice about a gay friend.
LGBT's, listen to me when I tell you this: You hurt us, not help us, when you get all heterophobic. I see far too many perfectly decent people getting their heads bitten off for being straight on this site, and I ask you, how is that any different from straight people ridiculing us for being gay?
2007-10-17 23:38:32 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. D aka David 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If someone is different from me, I usually try to be supportive. But you can take it too far. You might sound sarcastic, or like you don't want to have listen to what they're going through. I can't relate to one of my friends who was pregnant, but I can put myself in her shoes. I don't overdo it though. Some people don't know how, and it puts them in an awkward situation. Try to understand that they most likely do care, but they just can't relate. Some people might also think that if they make a wrong move, it might upset you, and they might risk hurting any kind of relationship that they have with you.
2007-10-17 23:16:32 · answer #4 · answered by ren 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some people are just overly concerned not to offend anyone.
When I was in customer service, I had a customer in the South whose speech was peppered with profanity, none of it ill-intentioned. He kept stopping to apologize until I told him if he was going to keep doing that, we'd never get to his problem. Another was purposefully hateful, and I told him to call back when he could conduct himself like a gentleman.
Offense is in the ear of the beholder. Saying you don't mean to offend is a waste of breath. Like going into court and swearing to tell the truth. If you're going to lie, you're going to lie about lying, too, aren't you? Just get on with it.
2007-10-17 23:10:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some people are just particularly sensitive to potentially offensive situations because they don't want to be seen as homophobic or hurt the feelings of others less resilient than yourself.
2007-10-17 23:01:23 · answer #6 · answered by Rat 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it's because what they're saying IS offensive, or they think it's likely to be taken so, and they just aren't bright and/or tactful enough to make it different.
See, for example, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Av30akZOWzb0DXj2XggBQHT07BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071017192947AAXtcPa , which begins:
Straight Vs. Gay?
Why does everyone think Gays are gross? I'm not gay or lesbian, but I'm not against them or anything. My friend thinks they're absolutely gross, and I don't get that.
2007-10-17 23:31:46 · answer #7 · answered by georgetslc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋