Offendees

Expecting a thread on empathy.

Hello Elegran. I think your OP is spot on, but as an unreconstructed pedant, I can't resist pointing out that you have spelled 'offence' the American way

I have no idea what empathy has to do with offence-taking so am ignoring Soon's 'contributions'.

Very interesting article, thatbags. Thanks.

Well you could have fooled me, soontobe!

I would say that there is a basic level of empathy needed in society yes. That is definitely not a concept.
But this may be going off topic somewhat now.
I cant be doing with discussing words just for the sake of it.

elegran and others who might be interested, here is an article about "empathetic correctness" that I read recently and that I think you'll enjoy appreciate.

If posters didnt reply to my posts such a lot, I wouldnt post as much.
You barely post, except to me.

I'd say a factor or a concept but not a standard.
Is there a standard measure of empathy?

Still don't understand your comments over the last few posts. I really can't work out where you're going with this train of thought unless it's simply another example (as was suggested upthread) of egocentricity.

I am not offended for God. He is offended all by Himself.
It doesnt impact on me.

Oh no! Now it isn't just people being offended for other people it's people being offended for God!!!!

Elegran - if this thread is purely about pedantics, then why do you have your last two sentences in your op?

trisher
Your last sentence.
Actually no I wouldnt, though that might be purely the way I take it. The offence is against God.

And yes you can empathise about the rest you have written in your post.

mcem - empathy is a standard of human life is it not?

So I can't empathise with someone who likes off-colour jokes, and someone who disapproves of swearing has no empathy with me because I occasionally use 4 letter words? That's nonsense. I appreciate there are differences and some people find more things offensive than I do, some people less. If I was to swear at you you would be offended and quite rightly so, no matter how much empathy you felt for me.

In what way is 'the level of empathy a standard'? And what do you mean by 'a huge great big one'.
I genuinely do not understand this post.

There is no need to get all aeriated about empathy. That is well-covered elsewhere.

This thread is under the "Pedants" umbrella, and is about the apparently changed "meaning" of "offended" from meaning "That definitely hurt ME!" to "There is a faint chance that it could have hurt SOMEONE who puts an unusual interpretation on it"

But the level of empathy is a standard. A huge great big one.

People's levels of tolerance differ and we all have things we find unacceptable. Personally I find most off-colour jokes offensive, but a limited use of 4 letter words is acceptable. Others differ I know. What I do about this is up to me. Sometimes if something is very offensive I do speak out, other times I will simply remove myself from the situation. It isn't a question of empathy simply of one's personal standards.

Is it not for the moderators to decide what threads are acceptable ?

Well done rose We can all now get back to adulthood.

I will leave you to it.Enjoy.

Soon - I don't think you have anything to apologise for. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Keep your nose out Whitewave, nothing to do with you.

Sorry, but can't believe a word of anything you write Soontobe, so don't bother with any apologies.

The good mannered thing now is to accept the apology and close the door on a rather embarrassing and puerile spat

I post a great deal on this forum.
Whether people think I stir all the time well I think they need to look at all my posts each and every day.

I understand that you are annoyed though, and I once again apologise for pointing them to this thread and its comment.