Posted by raisinb on July 3, 2008, at 22:51:23
In reply to should you offend people?, posted by sunnydays on July 3, 2008, at 19:49:44
I have a different take on this, because I like conflict in certain settings. Unnecessary conflict isn't good, but sometimes just enough is great, and gets the conversation much farther than it would go if people were trying to be sensitive or respectful. I don't think you should intentionally offend people, but if you feel strongly about something, then I think you should let it fly.
But it definitely depends on the context. I'm thinking of your class, where (probably) the purpose is to spark intelligent debate and to challenge everyones' opinions. Similarly, in a work meeting, I'd be very outspoken (and I am, I am famous for it :)).
In a more intimate or vulnerable setting, though, I'd be more careful. For instance, on babble, it's very important to avoid judging, since we know how sensitive and personal these issues are. And in a close relationship, when you have a lot of power to hurt another person, I think you should be careful what you say. So I think it varies.
poster:raisinb
thread:837900
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080616/msgs/837919.html