Yes, I believe people are far too sensitive and easily offended, sort of. If you think the current climate of personal offense is normal in any way, you may be part of the problem.
Years ago, corporations found out that they could profit from celebrating certain large groups of people. To make more money, they kept finding more groups, smaller (but still big) groups to “represent”. When that well started drying up, they carved a new river of money… Offense by Proxy. What’s that? Well, it’s the most annoying thing ever.
I’ll try to make an extreme example (the cornerstone of Offense by Proxy). Let’s say I want to profit from a small group of people… Pitbull owners. Most of them don’t care about me or my business, so I have to get their attention. I find a news story, with a comment section, about a Pitbull that mauled a child.
If there aren’t enough negative comments about these muscle-bound brutes, I’ll make some. Later, I’ll respond to all the negative comments, including my own, in pleading defense of those sweet lovable creatures. I’ll blame someone else for the bad behavior of a statistical minority of dogs.
Soon, the comment section will fill with emboldened people (most likely not Pitbull owners… this is where the word Proxy comes in to play) who want to help defend these cuddly little fur-babies. It will be a digital bloodbath with Pitbull haters being eviscerated. I may casually mention a website where people can sign up in support of these misunderstood animals. Of course, they can buy merchandise on that site as well.
The problem with Offense by Proxy is that it ALWAYS takes on a life of its own. Other people, who have nothing to do with Pitbulls in real life, will create foundations and websites in support or opposition to Pitbull ownership. The sites and comments will grow more divisive by the day. I already made my money on that group, so I leave for another “cause” while the tumult I created festers over time.
I generated an atmosphere of offense that grows worse by the day and feeds itself on a never-ending supply of misplaced rage. People are too sensitive because corporations foster human empathy for profit.