Offense

An extract from a discussion between Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens at the Hay Festival Blasphemy Debate - 2006

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• stephen
• fry
• christopher
• hitchens
• offense

[NoeLPZC]

As much as I love both of these guys I have to disagree with the first 30 seconds of this clip (unless the whole context has been edited out). What they're saying is akin to saying that if a person was to say "that hurts" when you punch them in the face it's nothing more than a whine and the appropriate response is "so fucking what?". A person vocalises their offense when someone is doing something they'd rather them not do. The appropriate response is to weigh their opinion and act accordingly.

[Tube799]

@NoeLPZC Yes - taken horribly out of context in a discussion about blasphemy laws. Your point is well made. I think that when I posted this I was thinking about using 'offensive' as a blocking phrase to stop all discussion on controversial topics; specifically ones of a religious nature. (Incidentally, my other videos have been removed because somebody found them offensive. The person speaking in them was saying some pretty awful things - which I was then highlighting. All rather ironic really!)

[thechaos44]

I'm going to have 0:21 - 00:25 as my "text received" tone =D

[Tube799]

I may follow suit!

[Tube799]

If you Google 'Hitchens and Fry' you can download the entire episode. I love the moment when someone from the audience shouts out to ask The Hitch to shut up to allow more time for Fry. They are both legends.

[NoeLPZC]

@Edohiguma "are you offended? Yep. Do I care? No"

Are you being a dick? Yes.

Life rule #1 - Don't be a dick.

[Edohiguma]

@NoeLPZC Oh boohoo. It's offensive. So what? Grow a pair. If I call you a jackass, are you offended? Yep. Do I care? No.

[Lazerus101]

@NoeLPZC There is a massive difference between "TAKING offence" at something someone says and actually being directly abused.

If you can't see the difference, that in itself is a little worrying.

[NoeLPZC]

@Jarvisdoctor I know what Fry is saying, and we're actually in agreement here.

People should have the RIGHT to be a dick, but that doesn't mean people SHOULD be dicks. If someone doesn't want to hear something you should have a valid reason for saying it. "Because I can" isn't a valid reason - that just makes you a dick.

[Jarvisdoctor]

@NoeLPZC What utter drivel! What Fry is saying is that Chritisans, Mulims etc. whine that their religion should not be criticised as it causes offence. It seems that they're excusing a lack of freedom of speech to justify not coming down on spiritual beliefs. There is some hypocrisy at play by some zealots though who find it acceptable to criticise homosexuality for example which many gay and lesbian people would find offensive. These people are the very epitome of arrogance!

[NoeLPZC]

@julesbanana1 It the context of people saying "I'm offended" simply to censor an opposing viewpoint, absolutely it should be met with "so fucking what?", but that context wasn't in the video posted.

[NoeLPZC]

@julesbanana1 Nah, it's nothing like advocating censorship, it's about extending courtesy. I'd not saying you'd have to respect their objection and censor yourself, but you should be aware of when you're being a dick. If, for example, a kid that bullied me in school dies and I go to his funeral and speak to his family about how much of a cunt he was, his family taking offense shouldn't be met with "so fucking what?". I'm all for free speech, just try not to be a dick in the process.

[julesbanana1]

@NoeLPZC

In that case the person would be advocating for censorship which I don't think is right in any form. Simply seeing seeing something one doesn't like isn't really the same as one being violently attacked...

[julesbanana1]

@NoeLPZC

but I think what Fry is referring to is someone saying "I'm offended" because of something in the media or wherever else that they find "inappropriate." You can see how this isn't the same as getting punched in the face. if that happens of course you have a right to be angry, but if your doing it just to complain and possibly have the content removed, then no, I don't think you'd be justified in saying in saying "I'm offended" because "it's something they'd rather them not do."