Open letter to all Gners

Iwould not have been brave enough to introduce it for fear of yet another rather nasty gang attack, so thank you for doing so

Oh come on GG, words like "fear" and "gang attack" are overstating things and have no place on GN.

See, that's why it's good to have a bags about.

There would be no humour in the world if we spent our time worrying about offending anyone. No one was hurt by that cartoon, it might have offended them but, if it did, it might also make them think.

I think it's possible to believe that someone was being deliberately insensitive when in fact they weren't.

Of course everyone is 'entitled' to feel offended by whatever they like. What they are not entitled to do is expect everyone else to do anything about it.

Stating a strong opinion that others don't like is not offensive by definition. I find lots of opinions offensive but not the stating of them unless that is done deliberately rudely. But, even then, the rudeness is what's the problem, not the stating of the opinion. Even 'offensive' opinions can be phrased in polite language.

Having your own opinion and giving it frequently often means being b....y rude and not bothering who you hurt or offend.
This is just my opinion you understand.

I have seen this article previously janeainsworth and it does not conclude that people are not entitled not to be offended.

In the first paragraph he says " You are not entitled to your opinion. You are only entitled to what you can argue for.” That was certainly what I was brought up to believe but it is far from what those who complain about "no sense of humour" or "too many links" seem to understand. Many of them seem to believe opinion is all that is needed and decry any form of constructed argument.

He also says if "Everyone’s entitled to their opinion” just means no-one has the right to stop people thinking and saying whatever they want, then the statement is true, but fairly trivial." I agree - triviality of this type is rife on the internet.

He continues "But if ‘entitled to an opinion’ means ‘entitled to have your views treated as serious candidates for the truth’ then it’s pretty clearly false." "It is my opinion therefore it is true" seems to be the mantra on some on this site but this is, as he implies, fallacious. He adds "there’s evidence, and there’s bulldust," There is oh so much "bulldust" (never heard that before) excreted on this site.

He picks up on the oft heard response when opinion is the only "fact". Again it sums up much of the so called discussion on her. We are told that it is unfair, that a separate thread is needed to protect their views from any in depth discussion and, as Stokes says that others are “openly calling for censorship ...” Disagree by putting forward an evidence backed argument on here and we immediately pilloried.

Yes janeainsworth, I agree this is a very interesting article. I would not have been brave enough to introduce it for fear of yet another rather nasty gang attack, so thank you for doing so.

ok jingle; I had no intention of doing this but you've pushed me too far. One night you posted something with regards to me saying how much you'd 'helped' me over the years, how pathetic [that wasn't the word used but, unlike you I don't seem to remember every detail of everything that I and others have said] and how wonderful your life was. I went cold all over reading it. It was late at night and not many people read it, although someone who did pm'd me straight away to say how appalled they were by your comments.In general things said to me don't bother me; I've learned to 'man up', it's when other people are hurt that I get annoyed [and I'm not referring to you in this case but anyone that I feel is being insensitive. Your comment was one of the nastiest things that has ever happened to me on the internet.As for the 'baldness' thread..it's history as far as I'm concerned so why did you have to, not only mention it but give a link to it. As this is a personal attack I know it will be deleted and I'll be asked to leave but, d'youknowwhat, I don't give a damn. I just don't like people being two faced.....

No jingl. Feel free to keep your reasons to yourself. I just posted the link as I thought others might be interested in it.

ja do you mean I should give my reason why I think the cartoon is cruel? (the article)

Those who think they are entitled to not be offended and are easily 'hurt' had better not read this. Others may enjoy it.
www.iflscience.com/brain/no-youre-not-entitled-your-opinion/
Not sure where I saw it last week, apologies if it was someone on GN who posted it.

Pompa/GrandTea You've got your old wooden spoon out again.

No double standards from me jenty61. I would ask you to back up that accusation, but that would be a total waste of time.

oops, I took Jings comment as irony, was I supposed to be offended ?

It is Gransnet as a whole I sometimes despair about.

Of course the cartoon is cruel.

A stronger example would be women showing their hair in cultures where some people regard it as wrong. Seeing a woman's hair does not hurt anyone, regardless of their feelings about it, even if they go so far as to think it immoral.

You're missing the point, jings. "Offended" is not the same as genuinely hurt. I think the misunderstanding of the difference is part of the overall problem.

I could decide to be "offended" by all the builders' bum cracks that appear within my field of vision (likewise all the excessive cleavages) or something equally unharmful. As it is, I just think "yuck" and move on.

nothing cruel about the cartoon at all it was funny...whats there to despair about ?

'double standards' spring to mind Jinglbellsfrocks!

Agree Jingle

I think when people are offended they feel hurt, change offended to hurt in that cartoon and would the reply bring the same praise ?

I thought you were leaving this thread ? Couldn't stay away eh ?

( that's my problem, on some threads, I can't stop digging my hole)

Oh yes, and Good Morning JBF

Perhaps this thread is getting rather unpleasant now? There is probably a GNr out there feeling damned uncomfortable about a 'crime' that really wasn't that bad.

The cartoon is cruel. Which is probably why it is finding so much favour on Gransnet.

I despair of this site. There is no real humanity shown here.

The first laugh of the day, Grannyk I partucularly like the caring expression on the face of the angel.

Love that Gk

In fact I'm going to steal it. Hope you're not offended but if you are..........

(Masquerading as Bags) - I haven't offended anyone. However, the cartoon posted by me may have caused someone to take offence, if they choose to do so etc. ...

GK, just how I feel at times, we need that as an emoticon.

I don't like the F word in posts, but used like this it is funny, and fine with me. (OK I know if it wasn't, you WGAF)

Excellent!