Quote:
Originally Posted by Levin
I actually agree with you: but can't you recognize something as being offensive without you yourself being offended?
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I can't. Something is offensive if it one deems it to be such. The term "offensive" is by definition a subjective term.
If something isn't offensive to me then I really have a hard time understanding why someone else would find it offensive. Conversely, if something offends me, I really don't understand why it wouldn't offend others. I'm careful to avoid taking offense and I'm careful about doing/saying something that I personally would consider offensive but I conclude it is impossible to learn what every other individual on the earth would consider offensive. Heck, I think it is impossible to learn about and try to avoid subjects that only the individual I interact with consider offensive. Because it is impossible, I deem it irrational to consider or worry about what someone else might think is offensive.