What is the difference between being "direct" and being "offensive"?

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At the moment a topic trending on Quora is that some people seem to feel that they are unfairly targeted, when all they're doing is giving direct answers that people are taking offense to because they are the ones with a problem.

Is it possible to explain the difference to someone who thinks they are not being offensive?

political correctness

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tynamite

When a person is offended - most likely by someone of a different culture - that offended person is behaving in the best way they can, in the situation they are in, regardless of whether what was said was actually offensive or not. The offence could entirely be a matter of people's differences. In which case, fault should not be given, as the offender has behaved in the best way they can, in the situation they are in too.

There is nothing wrong with the offended person being upset. They have every right to feel the way that they feel. But at the same time, that doesn't mean that the offender has said/done anything wrong too. They again, have acted in the best way they can in their situation too, with the information that they have at the time.

All good people can do, is make the best decision they can, with the information that they have at the time. Sadly not everyone has grasped this concept.

Sometimes people say things that are denigrative or belittling to others. It is up to external observers (and not the actor), to decide whether what someone says crosses the line or not. Sometimes the line is drawn too close, so that the line is far away from where it should have been.

It is the people who are both mature enough to realise whether they themselves have acted inappropriately, who also possess the ability to judge others objectively without bias; who will be able to make sense of any possible distasteful things that are said.

So in short, how situations of differing attitudes are diffused or further incited, are due to the level of maturity that each individual person in the situation expresses.

Maturity can come in many forms. Internally, externally, emotionally, and responsibly.

When all is said and done, it is up to you to decide whether that person is mature or not, and if it's possible to move on from how things are now.

My final answer on Quora.