Offensive?
By Faye
@FayeHazel (40230)
United States
February 7, 2018 2:44pm CST
Are people too easily offended?
I don't know. I'm the sort of person who would hate to think that I had hurt someone's feelings.
But I think sometimes the political correctness gets taken a bit too far.
Some of my oft used expressions have included stuff like
"no can do" - I like that because it's a joking/softer way of saying no.
"Me no like" - just a cute way of saying "I don't like that"
but apparently both of those, along with anything in that vein - are now considered offensive.
I guess the idea is that it is poking fun of people who do not speak English too well / English as a second language.
I never used them in the spirit of poking fun.... but I guess you could look at it that way, too.
What do you think? Is it offensive? Or is it a case of people being overly sensitive?
Clip from the "Santa Clause 2" movie. It's not in this scene, but toy santa at one point in the movie loudly declares "No can do!"
Scene from The Santa Clause 2, where the TOY Santa tries to stop production of all the toys so he can give all the kids what they really deserve - COAL! ...c...
27 people like this
28 responses
. Thank you! So are you!!!!
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
8 Feb 18
I am sick of our "boo-hoo-hoo" society @FayeHazel . As my Dad would say, "Suck it up, pull up your boot straps and shut the hell up!!" I can't stand all of these whiners.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
9 Feb 18
@FayeHazel My Dad was a feisty old bird. You could have you arm dangling by a tendon and he would spit on it and say, "You're fine." 
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
Thank goodness. Me too. There are mean with mean or downright evil intent out there. Those people are an issue. Not people using slang that may (or may not) have 2 meanings. Intent need to count. I like your dad's saying. :-)
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8261)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 18
@JudyEv "My Precious", said in his best Gollum voice.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
Ah true. There are true horrors out there, not someone saying something that might be construed in 2 fashions.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13718)
• United States
7 Feb 18
those people are just too overly sensitive. anything thats not to their liking is offensive.
people nowadays are quick to judge someone as a racist, a rapist , a chauvinist, a nationalist and so on. how ironic when it comes from people who claim to be understanding, tolerant and caring.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
I know. It's sort of sad, like you say. I find too, that most of the people doing the complaining are from groups of people who have been discriminated against, and they have many valid reasons to be upset, but it amazes me when they go after someone who makes an innocent comment - be angry with the people who mean you harm and discriminate - don't go after someone for doing nothing wrong/fault finding with words.....
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13718)
• United States
9 Feb 18
@FayeHazel - youve said it better than me. just cause one person of a certain character from a certain race or color or whatever, does not make everyone else that matches, doesnt make them the same. judge people on their own accord as an individual, not lumped into a group.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
9 Feb 18
@Plethos Oh *very* true there. There are good and bad people in all religions, skin colors, professions, shapes, sizes, genders.......
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
8 Feb 18
Things in this day and age, are all blown out of proportion, in many cases! Most situations are just differences of opinion, which we're all entitled to.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
8 Feb 18
@FayeHazel Can you imagine if we weren't entitled to our own view-points? We'd all be afraid to open our mouth!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
True, thank goodness we can all have an opinion. Without it would be a boring world indeed
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
9 Feb 18
@kobesbuddy It would be scary. Sort of like Orwell's "1984" - where the dictionary keeps getting smaller and smaller
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
8 Feb 18
It depends whom you are talking to, if you are talking to friends and using this kind of short cuts, it is fine.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
9 Feb 18
@FayeHazel Yes, shot cuts better be used with those, about whom we are sure will not feel offended.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
True - may be best to only use with people you know it won't offend
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Feb 18
Nothing offensive in that.
People often make fun of my accent and I don´t give a fig I just take no notice of them.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
8 Feb 18
@FayeHazel
Mostly its the Spanish who do that and they say you speak Spanish with an accent but not in a nice way most of the times so I say to them you speak English with an accent also a Spanish one.
So that usually puts their nose out of place a little bit.
Not that I want to do that but its only the truth I am telling.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
Aw I always thought accents were cool. But yeah.... they have nothing else to pick about so ignore 'em. Some people have too much time on their hands.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
9 Feb 18
@lovinangelsinstead21 Aw, as long as someone is trying to speak the language (in my case English) - I have nothing against them. I know learning a new language is tough! Sorry that the Spanish aren't as generous.
Ha ha! Good come back.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
I agree totally. It's going too far. People should consider the intent
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
8 Feb 18
People that do not know you do not understand that you are not poking fun at them so they take offense by those things. Maybe someone is in a bad mood and take it the wrong way and then when they are fine again it goes right past them. It is hard to tell with people how they will react.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
Ah it's true. Even though it didn't even occur to me that these things could be used in a mean fashion, maybe it's best to use them only with people who will know what I mean. Good point.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
I know, right? Some people are determined to find the bad in everything.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (59367)
• Portugal
9 Feb 18
@FayeHazel unfortunaly there are a lot of those people 
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
9 Feb 18
@nela13 Very true, I wish they could take their gripes to the biggest offenders first....
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
True, sometimes I think we won't be able to talk at all without offending someone. Ha.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
13 Feb 18
It seems the best policy today is not to speak. Hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil. With that concept, you should be safe from the PC police 
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
14 Feb 18
It's true! I fear that soon no one will be able to say anything because everything is offensive ha!
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
8 Feb 18
I am always in two minds over what is offensive. Of course, we shouldn't deliberately go around upsetting people but yes, some are too sensitive. I remember trying to type a word (I don't even recall what the word was) and got a message saying I couldn't put it on because it was offensive. I had to look up the urban dictionary version of the word to find out why it was offensive as I was using it in a perfectly innocent context. I honestly didn't even know that the particular word would be offensive to anyone.
Some people will certainly take offence at anything. This, of course, makes it difficult for the thicker-skinned of us to be taken seriously when someone really does say something truly offensive. I find that most people will accept things you say in the way you mean them. It can often be people who are offended on behalf of someone else when the person they claim to be offended couldn't care less.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
Very well written.
I agree, I mean I would just HATE to think I had hurt someone's feelings. It's not my intent. :/ But then I am also offended at people taking offense to me/those phrases/ some of the more innocent "offensive" statements .... there are true horrors happening in the world and people who DO mean to hurt others.... and they choose to go after someone with no ill intent?
Ack.
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
8 Feb 18
OH good grief if I heard you say no can do or me no like I would think you were just being silly. I would never think you were poking fun at someone else who doesn't speak English well. This definitly would be a case where people are offended to easily!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
Thank goodness. Exactly. I'm just being funny/gentle way to say no.... never occured to me the other "use" of these.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
8 Feb 18
I just read that Justin Trudeau corrected someone for saying mankind, we should be using peoplekind because it is more inclusive. I think the thought was there..but do we really need to throw out something that has been said for centuries??
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
I know, I agree. As a woman I find nothing wrong with "mankind" I read "humankind" including women....
Peoplekind just doesn't have the same ring to it.
*sigh*
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
8 Feb 18
Who cares what others think about how you say no? People need to get over silly stuff like this, there is more things in the world more important than wearing their feelings on their shoulder.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
True. If no harm is intended then people should stop looking so hard. There are mean people out there, and to take offense to all little things will keep them busy indeed
