system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: The concept of microaggressions is harmful to both the "aggressor" and the target.

First, I want to say that I love this community. It is incredible, and I have learned so much since subscribing.

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Now, Here are the points that I intend to make:

* aggression assumes intent.
* many people who commit "microaggressions" have no intention of doing anything harmful. 
* viewing unintentionally harmful acts as aggressive encourages a person to react aggressively rather than constructively. 

Edit: 
>Microaggression is a term used for brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative attitudes toward stigmatized or culturally marginalized groups.

definition by wikipedia
/Edit
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if I was walking down the street and someone punched me in the face, I would probably hit them back. However if the same person tripped and accidentally punched me in the face, I would probably stop and help them. That situation changes if I am taught to assume that every time someone harms me it is an act of aggression. I would likely react the same way in both situations. That could create all kinds of problems for me down the road. 

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There are many versions of microaggressions that I have heard that could easily have no negative intent behind them. One example is:

>Are you bringing your husband to the party?

That statement could very easily be offensive. There are alot of assumptions implicit in it. It assumes the sexual orientation of the person, it assumes their marital status, it assumes that they should be married. However, the fact that someone is offended does not demonstrate the intent necessary to define it as aggression. 

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If someone assumes that an honest mistake is aggressive, then they are likely to respond aggressively in turn. This affects their mindset. They are likely to see the world as far more dangerous as it really is. In addition, they are likely to alienate people that could have been their friends. It is also possible that a kinder response could have helped the "aggressor" change their problematic behavior. Once the cycle of aggression starts it becomes much more difficult to put down our defenses and talk openly. 

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It would ultimately be much more helpful to first seek to understand. Then, if there is truly no aggressive intent, try to come from a place of compassion. That is much more likely to produce genuine change.

Edit: 
I appreciate all of the responses. I would like to note one way that my view has been changed: 

I do not have a problem with the actual concept behind microaggressions. It is important that these interactions be addressed. We should encourage them to be addressed in a kind and compassionate way. The term microaggression encourages people to address them in a defensive way. In addition this has been helpful in giving me hope to see that more people view this as something to be approached with compassion than I previously thought. I will be going through awarding deltas to anyone who helped in shifting my views.
gpt
Are microggressions even defined as being aggressive though?

Merriam-Webster:

: a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority)

no mention of motive or aggression.

Wikipedia:

Microaggression is a term used for brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative attitudes toward stigmatized or culturally marginalized groups.

Explicitely "intentional or unintentional"

Psychology Today (don't ask, that's just the third thing that came up):

A microaggression is a subtle, often unintentional, form of prejudice. Rather than an overt declaration of racism or sexism, a microaggression often takes the shape of an offhanded comment, an inadvertently painful joke, or a pointed insult.

Again, explicitly "often unintentional".

I'd say maybe the word is poorly chosen, bit the CONCEPT, which is what you were talking about, seems perfectly in line with your opinions on the matter.