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.
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

4841
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

119166
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Bucket List To Live In The Now

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

1121
mu bucket list

I was sitting at my cubicle, now that I am an adult, looking at the rain pouring down on the windowsill, bumming on life, wishing for the rain to just stop for a full day.

There are moments where we count down the hours until work is over and how many more days till the weekend, and this many weeks until something exciting. Or something like that? Well, I was bumming because my next day off from work is not until Memorial Day weekend, which is not until the end of May. And since this is my first year out of college being a “real person,” I am totally missing the winter, spring and summer breaks. I am sure all of us have felt this way even if just for a hot minute…

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

808
Everything hurts and I'm dying

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Signs You Go To Kent State

You know you're a true Kent Stater when...

876
Kent State University
Great Value Colleges

If you go to or went to Kent State, then more than likely you have done or will do some of these things.

1. You’ve slipped and fallen on the ice at least once.

The winters at Kent are brutal, and while the heated sidewalks and some great snow boots are always a help, there’s no chance you won’t bust it on the ice at least once in your four plus years at school.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments