Why Being Offended Isn't A Bad Thing | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Why Being Offended Isn't A Bad Thing

Why do I have to be less serious about serious issues?

107
Why Being Offended Isn't A Bad Thing
lovethispic.com

You don't get to determine what offends others. You don't get to determine what racial slurs are acceptable if you are not a person of color. You don't get to determine what a female defines as sexual harassment. You don't get to determine what should and should not offend somebody with a mental illness. You don't get to determine what offends others if you are unaffected or obscured from the hate or harassment.

Being offended is not a bad thing. People see females speaking out against rape culture and sexual harassment as whining and a waste of time because "boys will be boys". People see those with mental illness speaking out against appropriating mental disorders as weak and pathetic. People see those who are offended as somebody who just "can't take a joke" or as somebody who just "needs to relax". We don't want to relax. We want others to feel empathy, be able to put themselves in our shoes, and see why we are hurt and outraged.

Privilege is when you don't think an issue exists or you don't acknowledge it because it hasn't affected you. Privilege is a very strong attribute in today's society. Those who have privilege think it is okay to determine this and that for the people around them. They think the world revolves the same for everybody and that there's no reason to complain if they don't see it fit to.

We are whining and complaining because we want change. We want the world to be a kinder, safer place for everyone. We want everyone to feel unified. So yes, we are offended when you are slightly sexist or racist with your comments. We don't want these things to be continued to be normalized when they are nowhere near acceptable. You can't shut down people who are legitimately working for the better of everyone.

We are outraged with the lack of empathy within our society today. We don't want everyone to hurt, we just want everyone to be aware and educated about the struggles facing minorities in society today. We don't want you to continue your racial slurs just because a friend of color didn't speak up about it. We don't want you to continue your sexist comments just because a friend laughed it off. We are scared to speak up sometimes because we are so quick to being shot down. We don't want to relax or take joke, we want to speak up, make ourselves heard, and make a significant difference.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

10 Things Only Equestrians Understand

Yes, it IS a sport. Yes, I fall all the time. No, I do not ride in jeans with a cowgirl hat on.

379
horses
Barn Pros

Growing up I have always wanted to own a horse. My grandparents own a well known equestrian facility in Georgia, so I have been riding since I was born. A bond between a person and their horse is a bond so strong that it cannot be broken. Everywhere I went I wanted to be around horses, even forcing my family to go on trail rides during vacations. Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember has taught me great responsibility, as well as 14 things that all equestrians can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
man wearing white top using MacBook
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

College is super hard. Between working, studying, and having a social life, it feels like a struggle to just keep afloat.

I understand. When you feel like your drowning and there's no way to stay afloat I understand that it feels like everyone else is doing just fine. I understand all the frustration, long nights in the library, and that feeling that you want to just throw in the towel. I understand that sometimes it's too hard to get out of bed because your brain is already filled with too much information to remember. I understand because I am also feeling pretty burnt out.

Keep Reading...Show less
No Matter How Challenging School Gets, You Have To Put Your Health First — A Degree Won't Mean Anything If You're Dead
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Some of the best advice I've ever received was from my social studies teacher in sophomore year of high school. He stated, "If you don't know it at midnight, you're not going to know it for the 8 a.m. exam, so get some sleep."

It's such a simple piece of advice, but it holds so much accuracy and it's something that the majority of college students need to hear and listen to. "All-nighters" are a commonality on college campuses in order to cram in studying for an exam that is typically the next day.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Warnings About College To Incoming Freshmen As Told By Gifs

College is hard, but you will make it through.

598
college just ahead sign
Wordpress

1. You will have that special "college" look to you.

2. You will feel like an adult but also feeling like a child.

3. You will have classes that are just the professor reading from their lecture slides for an hour.

4. You will need to study but also want to hang out with your friends.

5. Coffee is your best friend.

6. You don't know what you're doing 99% of the time.

7. You will procrastinate and write a paper the night before it is due.

8. Money is a mythical object.

9. It is nearly impossible to motivate yourself to go to classes during spring.

10. The food pyramid goes out the window.

11. You will have at least one stress induced breakdown a semester.

12. Most lecture classes will bore you to tears.

13. You will not like all of your professors.

14. You will try to go to the gym... but you will get too lazy at some point.

15. When you see high school students taking tours:

16. You will try to convince yourself that you can handle everything.

17. Finals week will try to kill you.

18. You won't like everyone, but you will find your best friends sooner or later.

19. You actually have to go to class.

20. Enjoy it, because you will be sad when it is all over.

Obsessive Thoughts Keep My Brain Stuck On A Loop And Me Stuck On My Couch
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Sometimes my brain just starts turning on an idea and it doesn't want to stop.

I don't know if it is related to my anxiety, perfectionism or depression. I don't know why it happens. It's frustrating, it's painful and it stops me from functioning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments