Is Being Offended Worse Than Being Offensive?

When did it become a bad thing to be offended at something? When something is offensive, shouldn't the reasonable, rational, logical reaction be to be offended? Yet we read, all over the Internet, blogs and comments mocking people who are offended and denigrating the very idea of being offended at something. People who point out offensiveness are belittled as "butthurt" or vilified as promoting "political correctness". Should the default position for our society be "I'll say anything that I want and screw you if you don't like it"? How about we recognize that there is a difference between "I don't like or agree with what you say" and "What you're saying is hurtful and offensive"? An example of some things that I don't agree with:

• Christianity (or the religion or philosophy of your choice) is the only true way
• Socialized medicine would be bad for our country
• Midwestern culture and values are the best way of life
• Being a Nebraska Cornhuskers football fan

I disagree with all of the above, but I don't find them offensive in any way. They're just opinions. I'm not going to publicly attack you for being a member of a religious group, or espousing conservative political views or praising a regional way of life or being a sports fan. Examples of things that I find offensive:

• "You're an evil immoral person if you don't believe the way I do"
• "Jews, Blacks (or Whites for that matter, pick your group) are inferior or unworthy of civil rights"
• Use of racial or ethnic slurs
• Use of symbolism that represents racist ideas or philosophies

I find these things offensive. I believe that these kind of beliefs and points of view have no place in public discourse. I in no way advocate for people being restricted from expressing their offensive opinions, but those who promote offensive ideas should expect others not only to be offended, but to express their offense out loud. Some people will respond to expressions of offense by becoming even more offensive, ranting about how they don't care what anyone else thinks, but some will reconsider their words and see things from the other guy's point of view. 

Being offended at offensive words and actions is the correct response. 

Pointing out how expressing offensive opinions hurt real people is entirely appropriate. 

If you rail about how worthless Food Stamp recipients are I'm going to let you know that I was once a Food Stamp recipient

If you pontificate about how all morality is based on the Bible and those who don't follow it are morally bankrupt I'm going to tell you that I'm not a Christian

If you wax self-righteous about how all the illegal immigrants are criminals I might bring up the unsavory aspects of the arrival on these shores of at least one of my ancestors

I'm going to ask you to think

Do you want to see fewer people being offended? Stop being so damn offensive