system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: It is possible to not take offence. It is impossible to not offend.

My views are changed! 

What I really am trying to talk about here is neutral, opinion based language. Specifically social media. It feels like, in my experience, that the onus is on a speaker or poster to not cause offence with their language. What usually happens is miscommunication and defence rather than communication and understanding. 

I feel like it's related to CBT in this way - discussion only really stems from disagreement and in the same way that CBT helps with changing negative thoughts, the same type of tactic can help change defensive thoughts into constructive questions or arguments. 


***below is original confusing explanation***

This pertains to things that cause no harm. I understand that's debatable. But let's nail at least one example down. Language. Being blunt and simply stating the truth or an opinion can often offend those that hear it. 

To not offend anyone would require silence and probably near complete inaction or reclusiveness. To not be offended simply requires a little adjustment via healthy internal dialogue. 

That healthy internal dialogue is exactly what is developed in one of the most successful depression treatments - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. 

I feel so very strongly that if we focused on rational thought processes instead of emotional ones that we could curb the depression epidemic and improve communication in many important ways.
gpt
>To not offend anyone would require silence and probably near complete inaction or reclusiveness. To not be offended simply requires a little adjustment via healthy internal dialogue. 

I feel this is the same if you turn the focus around.

To not offend someone verbally usually requires just a bit of adjustment of what you're going to say and who you're saying it to. That can also be accomplished via healthy internal dialogue. Hence the phrase "think before you speak." 

Will you still offend some people? Sure - but not the vast majority.

And with your example, you're still having a gut reaction of being offended - but then working through it internally before responding. You still get offended, no? 

You cannot control how others react to what you say, but you can control what you say based on how you expect they will react. In the same manner, you cannot control your gut reaction to other peoples' words, but you can control how you deal with it and respond.

Why do you think only your reaction to hearing words should matter, but not the words you say? Why not try to do both?