How to avoid offending people

[Spiderman]

The best ways to not offend people, (when you have a brain like mine) are: wear a mask, never be sincere, don't talk about religion and politics, never be transparent, always walk on eggshells, be fake, talk about sports, never be yourself, never tell a girl you have feelings for her, avoid giving compliments, avoid correcting people when you see error, talk about extremely boring meaningless things like the weather, be a shallow minded and uninteresting as possible, pretend you're just like the people around you, pretend you're interested in things you're not, pretend you're not interested in things you are....

What are some other ideas on how to avoid offending people? Could you imagine how fun RF would be if we actually all tried it?

 

[VoidCat]

No matter what you do you'll offend folk. There's a song called Follow your arrow by Kacey Musgraves, in it there's these lyrics:
If you save yourself for marriage
You're a bore
You don't save yourself for marriage
You're a horrible person
If you won't have a drink
Then you're a prude
But they'll call you a drunk
As soon as you down the first one
If you can't lose the weight
Then you're just fat
But if you lose too much
Then you're on crack
You're damned if you do
And you're damned if you don't
So you might as well just do
Whatever you want

Edit: had posted a link the song but due to some of the references to drug use didn't know if it'd break the rules so I edited it to just include part of the lyrics

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't understand this portion of the title...
avoid offending people

 

[Koldo]

The best ways to not offend people, (when you have a brain like mine) are: wear a mask, never be sincere, don't talk about religion and politics, never be transparent, always walk on eggshells, be fake, talk about sports, never be yourself, never tell a girl you have feelings for her, avoid giving compliments, avoid correcting people when you see error, talk about extremely boring meaningless things like the weather, be a shallow minded and uninteresting as possible, pretend you're just like the people around you, pretend you're interested in things you're not, pretend you're not interested in things you are....

What are some other ideas on how to avoid offending people? Could you imagine how fun RF would be if we actually all tried it?

Yup. You got it.

 

[SomeRandom]

Offence is taken, never given
That said, most people get offended over course language in general. So I guess never swear

 

[Spiderman]

Also, when I said wear a mask, I was not talking literally, but....hmmm....

 

[Heyo]

Offence is taken, never given

Yep, and some people are pretty eager at that. And when they aren't offended, they try to anticipate how anybody else could be offended. It is a requirement for some jobs.

 

[osgart]

The best ways to not offend people, (when you have a brain like mine) are: wear a mask, never be sincere, don't talk about religion and politics, never be transparent, always walk on eggshells, be fake, talk about sports, never be yourself, never tell a girl you have feelings for her, avoid giving compliments, avoid correcting people when you see error, talk about extremely boring meaningless things like the weather, be a shallow minded and uninteresting as possible, pretend you're just like the people around you, pretend you're interested in things you're not, pretend you're not interested in things you are....

What are some other ideas on how to avoid offending people? Could you imagine how fun RF would be if we actually all tried it?

Sounds like a nightmare! ( Cold sweats )

I seriously think people are easily offended, but I can't comply with this list.

I'd rather people speak their mind, but just do it in a genuine way.

I can say that shallow judgments, or constant ad hominems are offensive. Deliberate straw manning, and shifting the goal posts can be offensive.

The guy who's only objective is to make fools of someone without any effort to understand the argument is offensive.

I like sincerity, and truthfulness even when I'm in total disagreement with someone. Those two qualities bypass a lot of offenses.

Not everybody thinks the same way, draws the same conclusions. One man's sequitur is another man's non sequitur.

But if you really want to not offend somebody, then have no philosophy on things, and stick to the obvious evidence. Or is that offensive in a totally different way.

 

[Spiderman]

On second thought, I think the op was kind of offensive!

 

[Heyo]

stick to the obvious evidence.

Reality is offensive. Pointing it out to someone who doesn't like it can be seen as harassment.

 

[osgart]

Reality is offensive. Pointing it out to someone who doesn't like it can be seen as harassment.

I'll have to take my rose colored glasses off and see then.

I agree that it can be very offensive in a lot of ways.

 

[Lazy Old Devil]

The best ways to not offend people, (when you have a brain like mine) are: wear a mask, never be sincere, don't talk about religion and politics, never be transparent, always walk on eggshells, be fake, talk about sports, never be yourself, never tell a girl you have feelings for her, avoid giving compliments, avoid correcting people when you see error, talk about extremely boring meaningless things like the weather, be a shallow minded and uninteresting as possible, pretend you're just like the people around you, pretend you're interested in things you're not, pretend you're not interested in things you are....

What are some other ideas on how to avoid offending people? Could you imagine how fun RF would be if we actually all tried it?

As @RayofLight said, no matter what you do, you'll offend someone. But there are different levels of offense, I think. Paying someone a compliment is probably done with the best of intentions, and if they're offended by that, I wouldn't consider that anything to worry about. But deliberately upsetting someone on a personal level when they don't deserve it would be rather bad form, particularly if one did it repeatedly just out of mean-spiritedness.

Anyway, I'm British, and talking about the weather is our national obsession!

 

[Spiderman]

As @RayofLight said, no matter what you do, you'll offend someone. But there are different levels of offense, I think. Paying someone a compliment is probably done with the best of intentions, and if they're offended by that, I wouldn't consider that anything to worry about. But deliberately upsetting someone on a personal level when they don't deserve it would be rather bad form, particularly if one did it repeatedly just out of mean-spiritedness.

Anyway, I'm British, and talking about the weather is our national obsession!

I correct myself for calling the weather meaningless. It is usually boring conversation, but can be very important conversation! Just not my cup of tea.

I drink tea like I'm British. I'm part Irish!

 

[JustGeorge]

It is usually boring conversation

Unless you've got tornados dropping down.

That's exciting.

 

[Heyo]

Anyway, I'm British, and talking about the weather is our national obsession!

Talk is cheap. When do you start doing something against it?

 

[RestlessSoul]

I consider it good manners to avoid deliberately offending people. I am responsible for what I say and how I say it. I am not responsible for how you respond. Conversely, you can only wind me up, if I give you the key.

 

[Spiderman]

Offence is taken, never given
That said, most people get offended over course language in general. So I guess never swear

People that never swear make me extremely uncomfortable, like I can never swear and such. In other words "wear a mask, walk on eggshells, be fake!". Such people are such a drag to spend much time with!

 

[viole]

The best ways to not offend people, (when you have a brain like mine) are: wear a mask, never be sincere, don't talk about religion and politics, never be transparent, always walk on eggshells, be fake, talk about sports, never be yourself, never tell a girl you have feelings for her, avoid giving compliments, avoid correcting people when you see error, talk about extremely boring meaningless things like the weather, be a shallow minded and uninteresting as possible, pretend you're just like the people around you, pretend you're interested in things you're not, pretend you're not interested in things you are....

What are some other ideas on how to avoid offending people? Could you imagine how fun RF would be if we actually all tried it?

All those points are difficult for me to fulfil, with the possible exception of telling a girl I have feeling for her. And talking about the weather could also be dodgy, considering the different views on global warming.

However, since I despise smalltalk and shallow conversation, I accept the risk of offending people. However, I do not see that as something serious enough to change into smalltalk mode.

Ciao

- viole

 

[SomeRandom]

People that never swear make me extremely uncomfortable, like I can never swear and such. In other words "wear a mask, walk on eggshells, be fake!". Such people are such a drag to spend much time with!

I agree. Though in Australiastan a polite “hello” would usually have at least three swear words in it

 

[Secret Chief]

The best ways to not offend people, (when you have a brain like mine) are: wear a mask, never be sincere, don't talk about religion and politics, never be transparent, always walk on eggshells, be fake, talk about sports, never be yourself, never tell a girl you have feelings for her, avoid giving compliments, avoid correcting people when you see error, talk about extremely boring meaningless things like the weather, be a shallow minded and uninteresting as possible, pretend you're just like the people around you, pretend you're interested in things you're not, pretend you're not interested in things you are....

What are some other ideas on how to avoid offending people? Could you imagine how fun RF would be if we actually all tried it?

Avoid them.