We’ve all heard about it. It’s the “I take offense” sweepstakes, where everyone tries to be more offended than everyone else. Everybody thinks they have the best point to make and can do a better job than anyone else in pointing out other people’s flaws. But here’s the thing: no one wins these sweepstakes. So let’s dig into why this call-out culture isn’t doing us any favors.
Why We Take Offense
The real question is, why do we take offense? One theory is that it gives us a feeling of power and control over the situation. Additionally, it is a chance for our voices to be heard. Being offended allows us to feel smarter than everyone else. Taking offense allows us to demonstrate our knowledge and wisdom by showing others how they have made mistakes or misjudged something. Taking offense can also provide a sense of validation. If enough people agree with us, then our opinion does matter.
What’s Wrong With Taking Offense?
The problem with taking offense is that it can quickly become an exercise in one-upmanship. Instead of discussing issues calmly and rationally, people get into shouting matches. Taking offense creates an environment where no real dialogue or meaningful conversations can take place. Everyone is so busy defending their own point of view that nobody has time to listen to what anyone else has to say. And instead of looking for common ground or ways to compromise, people dig deeper into their own trenches and refuse to budge.
Taking offense also serves no real purpose other than making someone feel better about themselves by proving that they are more righteous than others. It does nothing to address any actual issue and leaves both sides frustrated, unfulfilled, and downright angry. And while it may make someone feel better in the short term, it does nothing but creates hatred and division in the long term.
Another problem with taking offense is that it often leads people down a slippery slope toward censorship and intolerance. When people start demanding apologies or punishments for every perceived slight, then pretty soon, everyone will be too afraid to speak their minds or express themselves freely—which defeats the whole purpose of having a conversation in the first place!
Call-Out Culture Does Not Lead to Real Solutions
When done aggressively, call-outs risk alienating those who could help create meaningful change and solidarity on essential issues. With so much political polarization in America today, our goal should be finding common ground with others instead of making them feel attacked for their beliefs or lack of understanding about certain topics. We should focus on educating each other rather than shaming one another into silence or submission.
The Risk of Over-Sensitivity
Another danger of the “I take offense” sweepstakes is over-sensitivity. People become so focused on being offended that they miss out on celebrating differences and embracing diversity. They disregard other cultures, ideas, and backgrounds. Furthermore, constantly criticizing others for doing or saying something wrong causes them to become afraid to speak up due to fear of backlash or retribution. As a result, you get a culture where people are too scared to voice their opinions. It leads nowhere but further division within our society overall!
Taking offense should not be seen as a competition but as an opportunity for growth and understanding. If we all focus on listening instead of talking over each other, we may move away from this “I take offense” culture and start having meaningful conversations again! So next time you want to jump into the fray of “I take offense” sweepstakes, remember this: there are always two sides to every story, so let’s try our best not to judge too quickly—and focus instead on finding common ground!
