5 ms·

Many people take offense so easily these days that I doubt it is possible to have a decent discussion about these issues without offending quite a few people.

Many people take offense so easily these days that I doubt it is possible to have a decent discussion about these issues without offending quite a few people. Our mistake is prioritizing offense mitigation. So long as a person's primary intent isn't to offend then they should be able to say anything without being fired.

shusson 9y ago
Yeah I see your point, perhaps it's not so much about offending people but the way in which it was communicated.
croon 9y ago
> Our mistake is prioritizing offense mitigation. So long as a person's primary intent isn't to offend then they should be able to say anything without being fired. I strongly disagree. If I want to cement my advantages of being a white male I'll propose anything that furthers that goal. My aim wouldn't be to offend someone, but it is still very real side effect of my goal. Discussing gender differences should obviously not be taboo, nor should other topics, but the motives behind the discussions should likewise be freely scrutinized.
- hyperdunc 9y ago
  It is very difficult to correctly ascertain motive, especially when looking through an ideological lens. Pandering to offense takers encourages them to seek motives they deem aggressive.
  - croon 9y ago
    You're right, but maybe I phrased it badly. What I mean isn't that I should be able to in practice be offended with what I disagree with, but that blatant agenda pushing behind science that doesn't quite fit your agenda should be questioned. I'm not offended by facts, I'm offended by dishonesty. We probably don't disagree in concept, but perhaps on this specific case.
    - hyperdunc 9y ago
      Yes, it's disappointing when science is warped by political agenda. But I suppose it's not surprising, since science's success has made it authoritative.
- Klockan 9y ago
  If I wanted to cement my advantages of being a white male then I'd adopt mainstream views on every topic since I myself don't gain anything from helping a fellow man.
  - croon 9y ago
    I don't think you're as alternative as you think you are.

shusson 9y ago

Yeah I see your point, perhaps it's not so much about offending people but the way in which it was communicated.

croon 9y ago

> Our mistake is prioritizing offense mitigation. So long as a person's primary intent isn't to offend then they should be able to say anything without being fired. I strongly disagree. If I want to cement my advantages of being a white male I'll propose anything that furthers that goal. My aim wouldn't be to offend someone, but it is still very real side effect of my goal. Discussing gender differences should obviously not be taboo, nor should other topics, but the motives behind the discussions should likewise be freely scrutinized.

hyperdunc 9y ago
It is very difficult to correctly ascertain motive, especially when looking through an ideological lens. Pandering to offense takers encourages them to seek motives they deem aggressive.
- croon 9y ago
  You're right, but maybe I phrased it badly. What I mean isn't that I should be able to in practice be offended with what I disagree with, but that blatant agenda pushing behind science that doesn't quite fit your agenda should be questioned. I'm not offended by facts, I'm offended by dishonesty. We probably don't disagree in concept, but perhaps on this specific case.
  - hyperdunc 9y ago
    Yes, it's disappointing when science is warped by political agenda. But I suppose it's not surprising, since science's success has made it authoritative.
Klockan 9y ago
If I wanted to cement my advantages of being a white male then I'd adopt mainstream views on every topic since I myself don't gain anything from helping a fellow man.
- croon 9y ago
  I don't think you're as alternative as you think you are.