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On (not) taking offence: "What does it mean to be offended? This line of Norm’s set me wondering: Most people are offended from time to time, either mildly or deeply, by some of what comes their way in speech, opinion, pictorial representation, film. The thing is, I can’t remember when I have been offended. Sure, countless things offend against my standards of decency, aesthetics or intellectual rigour. But the offences in this case are against the standards, not me. It’s a category error to believe I personally am offended. I suspect Muslims are committing this error. Sure, the Danish cartoons offend against Islamic law. But there’s a difference between that and offending actual people. Put it this way. We call criminals offenders. But their offence is against the laws. Their victims do not ordinarily say they have been offended by being burgled or attacked in the street. Put it another way. Say you call me a stupid cunt. That’s offensive language – it offends against standards of decency. But I am not offended by this – though I might be surprised or puzzled. Instead, I’d consider two possibilities. One is that I might actually be a stupid cunt, or at least have done something to warrant the epithet; this is quite consistent with your reaction being over-stated. I don’t f"