We've all sat around the table and Uncle Brian says something a little close to the line, to which Aunty Mary nudges and scalds him, "Briannnnn, you just can't say that, not these days...". "What's the problem? Jesus, I can't say anything nowadays", he replies. Yes it feels a little awkward for everyone else when somebody says something a little offensive. The eyes dart at each other then stare at their dishes. Conversely we have all said something that has been construed as something else, or said something that we didn't mean. To which we all receive the daggers from our partners, or our friend's eye do the darting dance.
What I am asking here though, is it all that bad to 'offend' people? Is it a hanging offence to be 'offensive'- providing you can deal with the backlash? Now, very few people go out of their way to actively offend people. Indeed these days the opposite is true. It seems as though most people will do anything NOT to offend people or be seen as offensive. How many of us have held our opinions in check because we were worried that certain people may be offended by them? I think as a nation we have become so terrified to offend anyone, that we let everyone get away with anything, rather than taking a tough stance on issues, whether it is on a national level, or in our own lives. On a national scale, the money washed away by the government on the benefit culture is absolutely chronic. The idea is that the government helps those who need it until they can support themselves. However, a monster has been created where we have seemingly an entire generation supported by the state, and will always be that way. Imagine the billions wasted by the government (by government I mean generally, not any individual party) on benefits which will never be recouped. When the current government started to look into individual disability benefit cases more closely the uproar was unbelievable. All I can say is that if you needed disability benefit you would still have got it. Those who didn't need it, wouldn't. Simple. The point is that alot of offence was caused for the benefit of the majority by saving billions that was previously wasted.
On a personal level, whenever you have had work done on your house for example, how many times have you paid up knowing you weren't completely satisfied, because you didn't want to cause offence? I'll admit that I have done it. Is it really so bad to 'offend' someone? What really happens? You hurt their feelings. Well maybe they need their feelings hurting. The workman who hasn't done as he was asked. The person claiming benefits when they didn't really need it. I am not advocating that we all go around shouting the odds, purposefully offending people, "ha look at those trainers" or "ha they look poor". This would be completely pointless; hurting people's feeling for no good reason. What I am advocating is that when the situation merits it, don't back down and sacrifice your views for fear of being seen as offensive- stand up for your beliefs and back yourself. What's the worst that can happen? For one, if you back yourself, and stand up for what you believe in, people will respect you a whole lot more.
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