No Offense

In response to Daily Post’s Daily Prompt: No, Thank You

If I could ban a word from general usage, huh? This is tricky. There are so many!

And NO, I am not thinking about banning swear words. Swear words add another dimension to any language—it’s like the ‘deep internet’ of languages. You know about it; you visit the place often; but if somebody asks, you act like you don’t know what they are talking about. (Except if they are your friends)

What Are You Talking About?

In fact, I sometimes believe all those words should just stop being a taboo. Frankly, it is stupid to feel bad because somebody used a certain word. It really doesn’t matter. I mean, why make a big deal out of it? And we all know that humans are attracted to things only if everyone makes a big deal out of it. Don’t believe me?

Fine. Look at Helen of Troy. Sure, she was called the most beautiful woman in the world but do you think it would have mattered if people didn’t make a big deal about it? A war could have been averted!
Still, don’t believe me? Look at the Kardashians. Do you think they will matter if people stop making a big deal about it? No!

How about pineapples on pizza, then? Should people stop making a big deal about that as well?
No! Nobody should face atrocities such as having your pizza with pineapples!

But seriously, everyone should stop worrying about what people are saying. If you don’t find it helpful, you can ignore it. Take it as moo point.

A Moo Point

Anyway, moving on from what I don’t want to ban to what I will want to ban. I wouldn’t ban one word. I would ban the whole phrase… *drum roll please*… “No Offense.” (The title gave it away, I know)

It’s pathetic, it’s docile and most of all it’s useless.

Think about it. Every time the phrase ‘no offense’ is used, what is it followed by?
That’s right, you guessed it – An Offense.

Definition of No Offense

If you are going to offend the person anyway, why claim that you mean no offense.

‘No offense, dude, but you run like a wimp.’

‘No offense, but I don’t go for guys like you.‘

‘No offense but you don’t seem like a person who can write a blog.‘

(None of these have ever been said to me, I promise)

Cross My Heart

So, what do we do then?

Well, you have two options.

Either, a, you shut up! Don’t say anything bad. That’s it!

Or, b, you say it like it is.
>Don’t like his shoes? Say, ‘I don’t like your shoes.’
>Feel that using a phone in vacation is wrong? Say, ‘Using your phone during the vacation makes the vacation useless.’
>Pizzas with pineapples aren’t your thing? Say, ‘WHO the HELL puts PINEAPPLES on their PIZZA?!’

If you can’t say it as it is, you shouldn’t be saying it. Obviously, it would be much better if you could tell them why you don’t like a certain thing. It is then up to them. They may choose to accept it or tell you it’s their choice and you have to accept it.

Either way, don’t hide behind the fake cloud of No Offense.

And if you are by any chance offended by the post, No Offense!

Nope, nope, screw it!
Take all the offense you can. Specially if you are pineapple on Pizza lover.

Till next time, WRITE ON!

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