No right to be offended? To say to someone "you don't have the right to be
offended" seems pretty offensive in itself. It seems to imply that their cultural
norms are somehow inferior or unacceptable.
With the global reach of Wikipedia, there are obviously many points of view on what is or
isn't offensive in what circumstances. Offence may not be intended at first, but, if
after a person is told their behaviour is offensive and they persist with that behaviour,
I think it is reasonable to assume that they intend to offend. Which is why the data
showing there is a group of experienced users involved in numerous personal attacks
demands some human investigation of their behaviour.
Similarly for a person offended, if there is a genuinely innocent interpretation to
something they found offensive and that is explained to them (perhaps by third parties), I
think they need to be accepting that no offence was intended on that occasion. Obviously
we need a bit of give and take. But I think there have to be limits on the repeated
behaviour (either in giving the offence or taking the offence).
Kerry