Real Talk: On being offended.

F***, Why Does Everyone Get So Easily Offended!?

Everyone remembers the old playground mantra: “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Now that the world seems to be obsessed with what is “PC”, the phrase might as well go “words will land you in civil court.” Why is it that in today’s society, people get so easily offended? It seems that the headlines are riddled with incidences of some celebrity or public figure saying something in private that is met with public outcry. They write letters to television shows to protest offensive material, tweet their qualms, or, worse yet, post extended emotionally-charged rants on Facebook about how horrible some person or organization is and how no one should support their disgusting and oppressive actions.

One example of such a devastating cyber-attack would be when Oreo posted a picture of an Oreo with rainbow filling on their Facebook page in 2012, implying that they supported gay rights. By the public response, you would have thought Oreo had posted a picture of a member of Al-Qaeda beheading a puppy wearing the American flag with the caption “lol”. Some people could not stand for such an offensive image to be posted on public media. Their children may read it and think that being gay would be okay! And what a hideous crime against humanity that would be. One man went so far as to angrily claim that he would never eat another Oreo again. Oreo must have really messed up if they could force a man to never eat another Oreo because, at least in my opinion, that would be impossible.

Now, I am not saying that people can say whatever they want. If you feel threatened or violated by someone’s words in any way, you absolutely hold the right to take action against it. However, I do not see what is so threatening about rainbow-colored frosting.

How could we avoid the plight of the PC? Because no one wants to be “that guy.” Unless you do, that’s your opinion. I’m not trying to offend anyone. I have enclosed below five ways to avoid being facetiously offended:

Be more confident and secure in yourself. Someone thinks your shoes are ugly? They obviously have no taste in footwear. You rock those thigh-high boots! Schools teaching evolution threatening your religious spirituality? Just keep avoiding facts and logic and stick to your guns like you always do!
Don’t be offended on behalf of other people. Worried about the millions of oppressed redheads after the South Park episode? Don’t be. Let us cry ourselves to sleep at night. If we want you to do something to help, we will ask. I would be cautious, though; it may just be a plot to steal your soul.
TURN OFF THE TV. Someone expresses an opinion you find erroneous and offensive? Don’t interact with that person and let others decide if they want to do the same. Offended by South Park? No one is holding your eyelids open forcing you to watch South Park Clockwork Orange style. Change the channel. Everyone has a different sense of humor, and some people happen to enjoy that show. Don’t try to deny everyone from accessing something just because you find it unsavory.
Understand that you are not the center of the universe. To think that something should be censored because it upsets you personally is an incredibly egotistical attitude to have. Stop taking everything so personally. Yes you, the person reading this article. Stop it.

Relax. Take a chill pill. Chill out. Seriously. You may go into cardiac arrest worrying about all the gingers that may be upset over that South Park episode. It’s already too late.