What issues people find offensive or take as insults always interests me. Before getting into the big one that I’m sure everybody’s thinking about, I want to cover some pretty uncommon examples:

Some people get really into particular brand. You’ll see it with cars and computers for sure, but could find it with anything. Wouldn’t it be absurd for an Microsoft Windows user to be offended or take it as an insult to find out someone uses OS X or Linux? It might be annoying to have the Apple or Linux user to try to push their product on to you, but that doesn’t say anything about you and very few (or any) would take it that hard….unless a complete ass hole calls you an idiot for using Windows. Then you have been insulted.

I know quite a few people who are vegetarians. Their reasons range from religious beliefs, animal rights concerns, environmental concerns, or even just because that’s how the person was raised. For the post part vegetarians and the more omnivorous among us get along fine, although travelling with one can be interesting. Heck, for the most part vegetarians and meat eaters can even talk about the issue without it being a big deal. As someone who eats meat (the default position based on history and popularity) I don’t find the existence of vegetarians or discussing why someone’s a vegetarian to be offensive. I don’t even take issue with anti-meat posts on Facebook. I do however know one vegetarian who finds the mere sight or mention of meat to be offensive.

The religious right find the mere idea of same sex marriage offensive, but why? By opening up a legal institution to more people it won’t change the legal or even social value of opposite sex marriages, the only thing they could even remotely claim is that it would cheapen it by removing the very slight exclusivity they enjoy, but that’s just petty.

Then there’s religion. Somehow the existence of atheists, especially atheists who are open about their lack of belief offends some people’s faith?

Anybody can get offended over anything they want, but nobody has the right to not be offended. What it really comes down to is perceived insult or injury. Without exception, unless someone is making a personal insult (or even general insult that applies to you) or causes real harm it is irrational to be offended. Unfortunately when its something as deeply internalized as religion, a lot of people cannot distinguish between their faith and their self. That X deity is the true god and that Y religious group is the true way to follow that god is not you and no matter how deep seated it is it is just an opinion of yours.

People really just need to stop taking things personally.