Wednesday, February 05, 2020

The Offended

We have become a global community on taking offense over anything and everything.

We not only take offense on a daily basis over trivial matters - we are actually always on the lookout to jump at an opportunity to get offended. And social media makes it all so easy to be offended from a (very) safe distance.

What someone was wearing - and it does not matter if that someone is a person you are never likely to ever meet. What someone said - and it doesn’t matter if that someone had a legitimate reason or series of events leading up to that comment. What someone supported or did not support - and it does not matter if that someone  had cultural or religious or political views that necessitated that view.
Anything or anyone that slightly deviates from our sensibilities is fair target. In our warped little world, they deserve our condemnation, ridicule, wrath and backlash.

Every time I read a scathing comment on Facebook or Instagram, I can’t help but ponder - why do we do this?Why can’t we live and let live. If we see or read something that we can’t appreciate why can’t we just scroll down without commenting?

We can either spend our days getting offended over every little thing or we can spend them thinking ‘huh! now wasn’t that interesting’. Because that is exactly what it is - for all our similarities, we are inherently different people with sensibilities brought on by our unique experiences in life- and our differences should make us interesting and novel but certainly not a cause of taking offense.

And I am not saying here become wishy-washy. By all means be proactive. Do stand up for the causes you believe in. Do voice concern where you feel the need. But let that be not at the expense of ridiculing others or getting offended over every other view out there that clashes with yours.

So I say let us open our minds. Let us exit the overcrowded club of The Offended and join forces with The Serene Ones , who appreciate differences and seek with interest the different views of others to become more informed and grow to be better persons.






The Offended

We have become a global community on taking offense over anything and everything. We not only take offense on a daily basis over trivial ...