Something I've been hearing more and more over the last three years is how sick people are of everyone being "too sensitive" nowadays. Each and every time I hear this I get a little (okay, a lot) more confused by it. Whenever I hear someone say that they are tired of being told to be more politically correct, what I'm really hearing is that they are upset that they can't be as racist, sexist, misogynistic, etc, as they were in the past.
Why does this bother so many people? There is no reason to say things in an everyday occurrence that are either racist, sexist, or just completely prejudice. Why are people fighting so badly to be able to say awful things about others in our society?
Freedom of speech, but at what cost? Despite having the freedom to say whatever you want, whenever you want, is that really how we should be living? From the beginning of time people have lived by this, saying whatever they please to whoever they please regardless of how hurtful their words are. What is the result of that? The world we live in today is, where not only are people openly racist and bigoted, but it has seeped into our political and governmental officials because of how accepted it has become, and I'm afraid there's no turning back now. It is widely accepted to publicly say offensive things (that do not need to be said,) and no matter how disgusting the statement is, people can't get upset about it because people need to "stop being so sensitive!"
Now don't get me wrong, I support freedom of speech, but it seems to only be relevant nowadays whenever someone wants to defend their right to say offensive things.
Today on my college campus if I were to get upset over a racist or sexist comment, I would get more hate than support because "freedom of speech" and the need to "stop being this sensitive" would be thrown at me at every turn.
Personally, I watch what I say and it has never bothered me. I don't want my words to be the reason someone is hurt or gets offended. A lot of people would come at me by telling me I'm "walking on eggshells" around people, but I'm not. You know what I am doing though? Being a decent person, who says decent and morally respectable things, and it's something that's not difficult for me at all.
Maybe give it a try sometime.
