"The same people would get offended if you actually suggested they were lazy and incompetent. " Maybe, because it is all relative. I know my flaws and compare

"The same people would get offended if you actually suggested they were lazy and incompetent. " Maybe, because it is all relative. I know my flaws and compared to my (often unrealistically) high standards, I feel incompetent quite a lot. So I can say the above and mean it. But if I get criticized as incompetent by someone way below my level, then yes, I might take offense and depending on the mood, also hit back (or ignore it).