[NA20236]

I would like to know if others in my age group agree with my observation that people in general are much more sensitive than they were 20 years ago. Do you think people get offended much more easily in the ’90s than they did in the past?
Original Code A34. Click here to see responses from the original archives.

User Detail :  

Name : NA20236, Age : 29, City : Boynton Beach, State : FL, Country : United States, 

[Rob]

I’ve noticed this also, and it is a bit humiliating to our generation. It seems that if you hurt someone’s feelings, then no matter what you did to cause this, you are considered wrong or just plain mean. I wish people would contact their local spine donors and have the operation as soon as possible. Am I wrong?

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Name : Rob, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 28, City : Warren, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Architect, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[KB]

I agree. I believe it’s because folks have lost a sense of community or belonging that centers their identity. So people are defensive as they search for someone or something to affirm them. It’s kind of sad. Folks have no coping skills nowadays. We go on talk shows to fight, sue people and shoot people in an effort to defend our rights, yet there’s a move for tolerance. True tolerance is saying ‘Hey, that’s your opinion … I do/don’t agree with you … thanks for sharing.’ Yet we’d rather fight opposing views until one of the two parties has changed the other’s mind. There is no true unity or tolerance when you cannot be agreeable with another who does not agree with you. Buck-up, people.

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Name : KB, City : Riverview, State : FL, Country : United States, 

[Annette]

Yes I think we are more sensitive. However, I think we need to explore the definition of ‘sensitive’. It’s not the same as ‘defensive’. But thoughtless comments can be ‘offensive’. We have more information available to us then we did 20 years ago. More information means we have the opportunity (if we choose)to explore the diversity of others. With this new knowledge comes a ‘sensitivity’ (I hope) regarding their belief system and what they value. I would expect more consideration and toleration regarding diversity from society today because of the availabilty of information to people. This web site is a perfect example of people wanting to know more (and understand) about each other.

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Name : Annette, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Puerto Rican, Religion : Christian, Age : 41, City : Virginia Beach, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : Social Worker, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Z]

The scary thing is that I totally agree with you. I may not have been around for 20 years, but I have seen a surge in sensitivity. I believe that is the cost of freedom. We are allowed to speak our mind more freely, so we are able to be offended. Individuality and Freedom are good things on paper, but everything comes with a cost. I also believe that sensitivity comes in cycles, and our iron skin will return after some devastating disaster.

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Name : Z, Gender : M, Age : 16, City : Bethlehem, State : PA, Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, 

[CA]

I completely agree with you. I believe people in general are on the defense/sensitve side due to the fact that ego’s are huge and out of control, and they want to be right even if there wrong… maybe so they don’t have to feel accountable for anything wrong in there lives. I also believe we are seeing the effects of people who are selfish and self-centered… cause… parents? society? broken homes?

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Name : CA, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 34, City : great mills, State : MD, Country : United States, Education level : Technical School, 

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