Trying Not To Offend People

Chat about anything your heart desires here, just be civil. Factual or scientific questions about philosophy go here (e.g. "When was Socrates born?"), and so most homework help questions belong here. Note, posts in the off-topic section will not increase new members post counts. This includes the introductions and feedback sections.
User avatar
Newme
Posts: 1401
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 1:21 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Newme »

Vivek7 wrote: February 14th, 2018, 12:10 pm I often cannot help it. I will offend myself if I do not offend others or vice versa. When an argument commences I have to agree or disagree and if I choose to agree to the thing I have already disagreed there arises a problem and I am in that case offending myself. I must do justice to myself or else I may silently be conflicting with the person I have agreed with. This demands a great deal of meditation but we humans living in a city of hustle bustle try to comfort at our expenses it creates a mountain of pains.
:D Hm, Maybe that’s my problem - offending myself. How do safe spaces work with yourself as the offender?

https://thefederalistpapers.org/wp-cont ... 044636.jpg
“Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.” - Epicurus
User avatar
Mark1955
Posts: 739
Joined: July 21st, 2015, 4:02 am
Favorite Philosopher: David Hume
Location: Nottingham, England.

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Mark1955 »

Newme wrote: November 29th, 2018, 1:21 amHow do safe spaces work with yourself as the offender?
Perfect question that I'd suggest demonstrates why the whole concept of 'safe spaces' is an ill thought through dreamscape.
If you think you know the answer you probably don't understand the question.
User avatar
LuckyR
Moderator
Posts: 7932
Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by LuckyR »

Mark1955 wrote: December 10th, 2018, 12:43 pm
Newme wrote: November 29th, 2018, 1:21 amHow do safe spaces work with yourself as the offender?
Perfect question that I'd suggest demonstrates why the whole concept of 'safe spaces' is an ill thought through dreamscape.
It is if viewed through the typical limited lens of true vs false, but makes sense when viewed from the more practical perspective of issue in relation to relationship.
"As usual... it depends."
User avatar
Newme
Posts: 1401
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 1:21 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Newme »

Mark1955 wrote: December 10th, 2018, 12:43 pm
Newme wrote: November 29th, 2018, 1:21 amHow do safe spaces work with yourself as the offender?
Perfect question that I'd suggest demonstrates why the whole concept of 'safe spaces' is an ill thought through dreamscape.
Dreamscape is a good term for the notion that one ought to be protected from truth. What a sick society to teach youth to fear truths. They should be teaching them to strengthen themselves so no (or few) truths could ever really damage them. “Safe spaces” and similar coddling is actually cruel because it doesn’t prepare them for the real world but instead sets them up for failure.
“Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.” - Epicurus
User avatar
Burning ghost
Posts: 3065
Joined: February 27th, 2016, 3:10 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Burning ghost »

I find the idea of not offending people to be offensive! ;)

What really bothers me is judging between words said that are plain stupid, ignorant and/or purposefully antagonistic without any aim. No doubt I will continue to judge ignorant people as stupid, the antagonist as ignorant, and the stupid as antagonstic.

Sometimes being offensive is a compliment to the target - when the target is hit by a plain or blunt assertion of their position then they generally get angry and double down. The really passionate thinkers knuckledown and expand their ideas even if they don’t shift much from their initial positions.

I stick to one principle when discussing anything online. If someone cannot see ANY problem with what they’re saying then they are here looking to be refuted strongly in order to breakout of the deadend they’ve fuond themselves at or they are dogmatic and simply fishing for compliments to bolster their myopic world view so they can revel in the hubris of their blind ignorance.

If your own thoughts don’t offend you you’re not thinking hard enough. Other people’s thoughts are tame representations of our own inner demons; oft we simply project our misgivings onto others and blame them for our own lack of underdtanding - that said idiots do exist! :D if you think you’re not one then chances are ... ;P
AKA badgerjelly
User avatar
ktz
Posts: 169
Joined: November 9th, 2018, 12:21 am
Favorite Philosopher: Habermas

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by ktz »

TigerNinja wrote: February 14th, 2018, 11:49 am What about in scenarios, whereby fact is clearly more powerful than emotions yet people are adamant that either the strength of their emotions or volume of their voice makes them correct? Just tell me your ideas on offending people, offensive ideas, and how to avoid offending people when that is in the nature of an argument without just tossing away a perfectly reasonable or logical argument.
I think in the case where you actually care about the other person, or having the other person's goodwill is of real value to you (like in the case you're trying to sell something to them), I think Dale Carnegie's techniques -- basically civility gone wild -- are useful to be aware of. Here's a summary although the full text of his book How To Win Friends and Influence People will provide some justification and historical examples probably necessary for a complete understanding. Carnegie's process basically boils down essentially to buttering people up and trying to find common ground to start from, rather than hitting them with cognitive dissonance up front like you are suggesting.

In practice I confess that I frequently let the negative emotional contagion flow through me more freely than I should when arguing on the internet, so I am probably a bit hypocritical to be making any recommendations in this sphere due to the sheer volume of epistemic closure I induce in the people I argue with. But in cases where it's possible that I'll end up with fighting with someone I actually care about, like a friend or family member, I try to do my best to follow his techniques and it's served me reasonably well when I do it right and don't end up as a doormat.
You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg.
User avatar
Newme
Posts: 1401
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 1:21 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Newme »

Burning ghost wrote: December 13th, 2018, 2:18 am 1) What really bothers me is judging between words said that are plain stupid, ignorant and/or purposefully antagonistic without any aim.

2) Sometimes being offensive is a compliment to the target...

3) If someone cannot see ANY problem with what they’re saying then they are here looking to be refuted strongly...

4) If your own thoughts don’t offend you you’re not thinking hard enough. Other people’s thoughts are tame representations of our own inner demons; oft we simply project our misgivings onto others and blame them for our own lack of underdtanding...
1) Yes, like ad hominem attacks. Pretty common. When you spot them, it’s easy to see that generally they’re used to try to compensate for feeling threatened and having no better argument to offer. The problem is that it seems few are able to identify this logical fallacy and instead allow themselves to be persuaded by such cheap blows.

2) Before homosexual “marriage” was unconstitutionally decreed, and it was really being pushed, and I’d post biological, social and psychological facts and statistics, I was often and viciously attacked personally. Some who saw how they were trying to shoot the messenger because of the ugly truths of the message, told me that I must have hit the target for them to hate me so much.

3) Bigotry is often used hypocritically as ad hominem attacks. What it actually means is “intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.” Even when I strongly believe one perspective if most accurate, I acknowledge there are always other ways of looking at it. And I try to consider I could be mistaken in some way and need to be open to improvement. Also, if you want to argue well, you become familiar with all sides of th argument.

4) I love how you put that! So true! A common trait in narcissism is projecting and blaming others. Scott Peck suggested that mistakes and bad decisions are not real evil - we all do that to some extent. Real evil is the persistent attempt to shift blame and make others pay. That is damning - in preventing one from progressing.
“Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.” - Epicurus
User avatar
Newme
Posts: 1401
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 1:21 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Newme »

ktz wrote: December 13th, 2018, 8:53 pm ...Carnegie's process basically boils down essentially to buttering people up and trying to find common ground to start from, rather than hitting them with cognitive dissonance up front like you are suggesting.

In practice I confess that I frequently let the negative emotional contagion flow through me more freely than I should when arguing on the internet, so I am probably a bit hypocritical to be making any recommendations in this sphere due to the sheer volume of epistemic closure I induce in the people I argue with. But in cases where it's possible that I'll end up with fighting with someone I actually care about, like a friend or family member, I try to do my best to follow his techniques and it's served me reasonably well when I do it right and don't end up as a doormat.
I also try to find common ground, but I need to work on buttering people up. It seems so fake, but most people need it in order to be open. I think it also takes time - patience. I tend to want to get to the point.

In some cases (like trying to get cult-members see they’re in a cult) it has been especially challenging. Some have had years of mind-control that cause them to automatically reject even the slightest hint of “anti-[their cult]” information, and worse - to reject those offering even substatiated facts that make their cult look bad, even when it’s family.
“Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.” - Epicurus
User avatar
Mark1955
Posts: 739
Joined: July 21st, 2015, 4:02 am
Favorite Philosopher: David Hume
Location: Nottingham, England.

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Mark1955 »

Newme wrote: January 11th, 2019, 12:34 pmI also try to find common ground, but I need to work on buttering people up. It seems so fake, but most people need it in order to be open. I think it also takes time - patience. I tend to want to get to the point.

In some cases (like trying to get cult-members see they’re in a cult) it has been especially challenging. Some have had years of mind-control that cause them to automatically reject even the slightest hint of “anti-[their cult]” information, and worse - to reject those offering even substantiated facts that make their cult look bad, even when it’s family.
Here's a few thoughts, what if people aren't interested in substantiated facts that disagree with their point of view. Suppose nobody ever fell for a substantiated fact [even if such a thing existed]. Suppose people run on emotions, they just want to be loved, or at least paid attention to and treated like they matter. Maybe if you want to get someone away from a cult [or just to change their mind] you need to make them more attracted to what you offer than what the opposition does. As an example a lot of the pro EU propaganda in the UK has been 'project fear'; if we leave the EU [without a treaty] then you will pay in all these ways. No one has stood up and said, the EU is good for you because.... Currently we're leaving and probably without a treaty. In a similar way I suspect a lot of Americans voted Trump because they don't feel wanted by the established politicians, they feel they are regarded as 'vote fodder' by politicians who use them to get elected, but otherwise ignore them. The attraction of cults, and people who just butter you up to get you to agree to their plan for where to go for dinner, is just that you feel more important, regarded, loved; so maybe to change people's minds you need to show them the benefits of accepting your view by showing the good things that come out of it and in particular the love and attention they'll get. If you study 'cult' methods I think you'll find that's exactly what they do.
If you think you know the answer you probably don't understand the question.
User avatar
meaningful_products
New Trial Member
Posts: 17
Joined: January 25th, 2019, 4:17 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by meaningful_products »

To make a philosophical post without people being offended, you have to understand that its art. One might say that people react differently to every theory so negative reactions are impossible to avoid, but if you work really hard at your word usage and keep editing until the post is phrased in a way that would not evoke the negative emotional reactions you will achieve the response you want.

The real concern I think the original post makes is that the topics that tend to bring the most clarity to the mind involve asking others to wrap their minds around concepts which have a strong tendency to evoke negative emotional reactions. I believe that this is the price you pay to ask people to think about these sorts of things. To change this you will have to change humanity as a whole. As humanity evolves, we seem to statistically change the way we react to philosophical ideas. Whether it would be "better" or even inevitable that people would evolve to the point where they can talk about philosophy without expressing emotion is a different issue altogether. Sure, you can have a group of people who live on an island work together and deliberately live in such a way so that they don't have emotional reactions to philosophy, but what fun would that be? Maybe this sheds some light on the issue.
User avatar
Newme
Posts: 1401
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 1:21 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Newme »

Mark1955 wrote: January 24th, 2019, 12:51 pm
Newme wrote: January 11th, 2019, 12:34 pmI also try to find common ground, but I need to work on buttering people up. It seems so fake, but most people need it in order to be open. I think it also takes time - patience. I tend to want to get to the point.

In some cases (like trying to get cult-members see they’re in a cult) it has been especially challenging. Some have had years of mind-control that cause them to automatically reject even the slightest hint of “anti-[their cult]” information, and worse - to reject those offering even substantiated facts that make their cult look bad, even when it’s family.
Here's a few thoughts, what if people aren't interested in substantiated facts that disagree with their point of view. Suppose nobody ever fell for a substantiated fact [even if such a thing existed]. Suppose people run on emotions, they just want to be loved, or at least paid attention to and treated like they matter. Maybe if you want to get someone away from a cult [or just to change their mind] you need to make them more attracted to what you offer than what the opposition does. As an example a lot of the pro EU propaganda in the UK has been 'project fear'; if we leave the EU [without a treaty] then you will pay in all these ways. No one has stood up and said, the EU is good for you because.... Currently we're leaving and probably without a treaty. In a similar way I suspect a lot of Americans voted Trump because they don't feel wanted by the established politicians, they feel they are regarded as 'vote fodder' by politicians who use them to get elected, but otherwise ignore them. The attraction of cults, and people who just butter you up to get you to agree to their plan for where to go for dinner, is just that you feel more important, regarded, loved; so maybe to change people's minds you need to show them the benefits of accepting your view by showing the good things that come out of it and in particular the love and attention they'll get. If you study 'cult' methods I think you'll find that's exactly what they do.
I imagine it’s true that the key is persuading more based on emotional reasoning and presenting a better overall package - especially in making them feel loved. Sad but true. Sad, because the cult I refer to (Mormonism) is great and unbeatable in many ways - like precious social connection.
“Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.” - Epicurus
User avatar
Mark1955
Posts: 739
Joined: July 21st, 2015, 4:02 am
Favorite Philosopher: David Hume
Location: Nottingham, England.

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Mark1955 »

I think in this case, since we're not talking about something illegal or directly life threatening, less may well be more. Just be yourself, be a decent person, don't threaten or eliberately antagonise. I get on very well with my niece and her husband who are both pretty hard core religious people and I'm agnostic. We just get on with each other and leave the religion issue out of it.
If you think you know the answer you probably don't understand the question.
User avatar
Felix
Posts: 3117
Joined: February 9th, 2009, 5:45 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Felix »

Burning ghost said: "If your own thoughts don’t offend you, you’re not thinking hard enough."

I like that saying a lot, may I borrow it?

I've have corollary to it: "I am agnostic about my own thoughts."
"We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are." - Anaïs Nin
User avatar
Newme
Posts: 1401
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 1:21 am

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by Newme »

Mark1955 wrote: April 30th, 2019, 10:34 am I think in this case, since we're not talking about something illegal or directly life threatening, less may well be more. Just be yourself, be a decent person, don't threaten or eliberately antagonise. I get on very well with my niece and her husband who are both pretty hard core religious people and I'm agnostic. We just get on with each other and leave the religion issue out of it.
Thanks. You offer good advice, generally. But I think when cults are involved it’s a bit different. E.g.: My sister (who’s husband works for the cult & is very entrenched) wanted to discuss with my husband about a trip to a place where my husband had an affair (I found hidden pictures). I explained this to her, and how I’d rather she not ask him to take them there & her reply was (based on gossip from my mom about me no longer believing despite still involvement in the cult) was “You need to live up to your covenants in the temple.” To them, the cult is god - comes before marriage (my husband threatened to divorce me when I had a faith crisis), the cult comes before everything.
“Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.” - Epicurus
MAYA EL
Posts: 177
Joined: May 2nd, 2019, 11:17 pm

Re: Trying Not To Offend People

Post by MAYA EL »

Feelings are non-tangible you can't tell me how yours look in comparison to mine and you can't see mine just like I can't see yours so we have a non-tangible object of discussion and to add to this we also have very little to no control over it.

So we have a non-tangible non controllable unique to each individual "thing" that has become a very popular Topic in Western society as of lately furthermore we have a very serious issue where people are being persecuted and punished because of this "thing" .

Now as my logic sees it a law is put in place to uphold a specific understanding about a specific angle of reality and what I mean by this is something that is actually consistent across multiple people and tangible so I can share the same one as you can and this has to be so in order for the law to enforce it because if it does not meet this criteria then it is considered imaginary it does not exist

however we ironically have taken personal emotions and set them in the category as tangibly real and coupled them with consequences of a fence and this in my opinion is preposterous because if I cannot see your emotions and you cannot control your emotions then I have no means at my disposal to properly conclude the right thing to say or do in order to avoid hurting your feelings and so because it is seemingly impossible for me to avoid offense to another person how then can I be held accountable for unknowingly offending them? Well morally speaking I shouldn't be

however in this Society people are punished for offending other people and like I have previously just stated this punishment is being rendered for something that does not exist. People need to realize that human imagination is slowly destroying Society. As the Ancients called it the Fallen mindset like a blind sniper on a mission we have all the tools of a God and all the ignorance of a Slave.
Post Reply

Return to “Philosophers' Lounge”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021