What offends you?

[glyn]

There was a time,not too long ago,in Merry Olde England,when whatever one said ,someone would be offended by it.Be it the word black,immigrant,gypsy,gay, or even the word Christmas in some cases.Now it seems the words "I find that offensive" seem to be very rarely uttered.Im wondering why.Has the word "offended" or "offensive" gone out of fashion?Or have those words been used so often that they no longer mean anything any more? Have the "offended" run out of things to be offended by? What a dreary state of affairs to be sure.
Anyone here got any pet words or sayings that offend them?

[TomTomKent]

There was a time,not too long ago,in Merry Olde England,when whatever one said ,someone would be offended by it.Be it the word black,immigrant,gypsy,gay, or even the word Christmas in some cases.Now it seems the words "I find that offensive" seem to be very rarely uttered.Im wondering why.Has the word "offended" or "offensive" gone out of fashion?Or have those words been used so often that they no longer mean anything any more? Have the "offended" run out of things to be offended by? What a dreary state of affairs to be sure.
Anyone here got any pet words or sayings that offend them?

Very few, as often it is the intended meaning of the word, not the word itself that is the crux of the situation.

[glyn]

Nicely put Tom, I wish everyone would show the same common sense regarding that....unfortunately many dont.

[TomTomKent]

Nicely put Tom, I wish everyone would show the same common sense regarding that....unfortunately many dont.

For a point in case see the recent debacle over a episode of the News Quiz, itself broadcast as long ago as (I think) October. Sandi Toksvig said:
"It's the Tories who put the N into Cuts". Now the papers suggested a certain word had been said (which it had not), with quotes that implied the same. I myself don't find it offensive, despite the implied language, because of the tone and the intention of the joke remaining tasteful.

By contrast Frankie Boyle, even when not using that particular word manages to be more offensive because of the more spiteful nature of his routine. (That is not saying I want his filth banned at all, but on the sliding scale of offensiveness...)

[Fleetwood Mac]

There was a time,not too long ago,in Merry Olde England,when whatever one said ,someone would be offended by it.Be it the word black,immigrant,gypsy,gay, or even the word Christmas in some cases.Now it seems the words "I find that offensive" seem to be very rarely uttered.Im wondering why.Has the word "offended" or "offensive" gone out of fashion?Or have those words been used so often that they no longer mean anything any more? Have the "offended" run out of things to be offended by? What a dreary state of affairs to be sure.
Anyone here got any pet words or sayings that offend them?

My estimation is that you have it the wrong way round.

Once upon a time you could say whatever you wanted in the knowledge that the thought police wouldn't be on your case. These days we have all sorts of waifs and strays jumping on the bandwagon of what should and should not be said. The definition of totalitarianism is censorship; this is a point that's lost on this generation. Slowly but surely the continental European way of doing things, i.e. left wing fascism, is increasingly clouding English values, which is why we really need the Americans, not for war spoils nor economic gain: they're the only sane people left on this planet who understand the importance of freedom of speech. The continental Europeans are beyond saving, and we're teetering on the brink.

'Bout time this country shaped up, sharpish!

Edited to add: ask an American about this and the majority will say you choose to be offended; ask a continental European and they'll blather on about feelings and victimisation; ask an Englishman and you'll get something like 50/50.

It takes a small spot of reason to arrive at the conclusion that no one can offend you unless you choose to be offended, and you can't base the rule of the law on 'feelings' unless you want a government encroaching into various aspects of your life.

We really need to get a grip on this situation. You 'offend' me in the street and we settle it like grown ups; the chances are I'll put you in your place before walking away. We don't need the law to resolve petty squabbles.

And, to answer the question, nothing offends me. You attempt to 'offend' me, and I'll laugh at you for being a dick. Conversation over. Simple.

[glyn]

Fleetwood,
Judging from conversations Ive had ,the "thought police" are alive and kicking in America also.It doesnt bode well for the future if America succumb to the same disease . At present,apparently,as you probabley know ,theres even a campaign to eliminate the offending word ****** from huckleberry Finn,which I find quite extraordinary.Altering books isnt a giant step away from burning books. But these various anti this- anti that pressure groups seem to be in the ascendancy right now,maybe sanity will return,but I have grave suspicions it might not.

nice post by the way.....yours -not mine

[Jeff Leahy]

I believe that Rowan Atkinson's live show (better known as Black Adder or Mr Bean) concludes with a sketch where the Devil welcomes various groups of people to Hell...

Having gone through the various main groups of sinners dressed as Beelzebub, "fornicators, adulterers, murderers, rapists" etc (the usual crowd)

He drops the punch line "Americans are you here?"

But us Brits love you really


Pirate

[Fleetwood Mac]

Fleetwood,
Judging from conversations Ive had ,the "thought police" are alive and kicking in America also.It doesnt bode well for the future if America succumb to the same disease . At present,apparently,as you probabley know ,theres even a campaign to eliminate the offending word ****** from huckleberry Finn,which I find quite extraordinary.Altering books isnt a giant step away from burning books. But these various anti this- anti that pressure groups seem to be in the ascendancy right now,maybe sanity will return,but I have grave suspicions it might not.

nice post by the way.....yours -not mine

I agree, the last thing we need is the Americans taking on board the European way.

Regardless, we should be looking at ourselves and asking where all of this went wrong. It started during WW1 when the government began to organise many aspects of private business and life, and it was accepted as we were at war, and we haven't really recovered. On the plus side, a lot of people are sick and tired of it: sick and tired of government intrusion into people's lives, including what you can and cannot say, and perhaps the shift to the right in the last 30 years suggests we are moving towards what we once were: liberal values (old liberal values as opposed to left-wing censorship).

[Fleetwood Mac]

I believe that Rowan Atkinson's live show (better known as Black Adder or Mr Bean) concludes with a sketch where the Devil welcomes various groups of people to Hell...

Having gone throw the various main groups of sinners,, fornicators, adulterers, murderers, rapists etc (the usual crowd)

He drops the punch line "Americans are you here?"

Pirate

Except he doesn't.

He actually says: "the French, are you here?", to which the crowd laughs, and then says: "stand over there with the Germans, you should have plenty to talk about".....more laughter.

The Americans aren't mentioned in the entire sketch.

Have you heard the saying: "in Europe they say you may walk on the grass; in England we say don't walk on the grass". Sums it up nicely, except we've forgotten the principles, those principles, for which we once stood.

[Jeff Leahy]

Oh contere Fleetwood Mac

The original sketch, writen by Angus Deaton clearly has the punch line

"Americans are you here!"

And goes on to explain that their fore fathers fell out with God and he condemned the entire race...

I guess its since been thought that Americans dont have a sense of ironie and that it wouldnt play well with their massive dollar spilling audience pockets..

And lets face it who cares if anyone offends the French or the Germans?

Pirate

PS I have a copy of the original one man show somewhere do you think its worth anything?

[Fleetwood Mac]

Oh contere Fleetwood Mac

The original sketch, writen by Angus Deaton

I thought we were talking of Rowan Atkinson's sketch, simply because you mentioned Rowan Atkinson, and there was a complete absence of Angus Deaton in your post. This could get surreal.

[Jeff Leahy]

Hi Fleetwood

No. The original Atkinson one man show was writen by Angus deaton when he was an unknown writer comedian long before 'Have I got News for you'

And doing some quick internet searches your absolutely correct UTUBE have not only added advertising they have also writen out the original gag!

Its like being in 1984, new speak, big brother has ordained we cant laugh at Americans..

Its rather sinister

I'm now frightened someone might realize I have a copy of teh original sketch and they'll come for me in the night...Help...! I have the black spot!!

Pirate

[Jeff Leahy]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163186/usercomments

Interestingly the original show was never released in the USA..

I wonder why that was?

[jason_c]

Pretty much nothing offends me. As as libertarian I try to practice what I preach.

[Magpie]

There was a time,not too long ago,in Merry Olde England,when whatever one said ,someone would be offended by it.Be it the word black,immigrant,gypsy,gay, or even the word Christmas in some cases.Now it seems the words "I find that offensive" seem to be very rarely uttered.Im wondering why.Has the word "offended" or "offensive" gone out of fashion?Or have those words been used so often that they no longer mean anything any more? Have the "offended" run out of things to be offended by? What a dreary state of affairs to be sure.
Anyone here got any pet words or sayings that offend them?

I think the emphasis has changed from "I find that offensive" (correct) to "You are being offensive" (mostly bollocks. but see below). Lot's of stuff offends me, but I recognize that offense is my response, therefore my problem to deal with.

Ironically, despite so many people trying so hard to deliberate offend everyone else (usually so they can claim to be poor, persecuted victims of "political correctness"), I find it hard to get offended at what they say--why give 'em the attention they so desperately crave?