h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Those who seek offense rarely fail to take it.

Shock value is imminently defensible.
Look at the "Irish Solution" essay by, um, Defoe?

Sometimes, to get people to skip out of the mental rut, you have to kick them a little.

On the other hand, the Noel Coward syndrome, where in otherwise undesirable behavior in school children is encouraged in the entertainment industry, is another form of mental rut.

In my view, the term" Offensive" is merely subjective. What is offensive to one may not be offensive to another. It all comes down to one's morals and beliefs.

I find American beer offensive! Does that count?

Aha! Great thread. I was talking about this with somebody last week.

Many people find me offensive/disgusting/rude depending on the outfit)...allegedly anyway. Apparently in certain h2g2 circles I am incredibly unpopular.

YET, ironically, I am also someone with a long long Friends list.

Maybe people aren't necessarily found offensive by a great number of people...just that the folks that shout longer and louder than everyone else, are the ones who are remembered? Negativity about an individual sticks around longer than positivity...

I think getting onto "First Impressions"... when people fail to look beyond the superficial...

"In my view, the term" Offensive" is merely subjective. What is offensive to one may not be offensive to another. It all comes down to one's morals and beliefs."

If the dog went in your soup, I don't think it would matter what your morals or beliefs were...

if the dog went in your American beer, that might be an improvement...

I think that's straying into the difference between disgust & offence. Taking offence I think would depend on your personal viewpoint. But I believe that research has shown that generally we are all disgusted by similar things - apart from small children yet to develop that trait!