Comment On microaggressions (Score 3, Interesting) 107
First of all, this is the first time I've encountered this term, and find it rather interesting.
To me it seems apparent that people interacting are bound to occasionally cause discomfort to one another in unintended ways. We'll leave out intentional aggressive behaviors, which seem to be a different topic. The ideal as I see it is not to eliminate this feature of human interaction, but to discover appropriate responses to it on both sides.
Being offended is at some level involuntary, I think, although one can certainly get carried away with it. There should be ways to respond to it that encourage learning and accord rather than evoking defensive posturing.
Likewise, having caused unintended offense and having it brought to one's attention will inevitably produce some level of defensiveness. Again, it's easy to get carried away with the defensive response. There should, again, be ways to accept and grow from the experience rather than turning it into worse offense and deeper divides.
Perhaps learning to care about the feelings of the people you encounter at least as much as protecting your own feelings is the key. On both sides.
Otherwise, get off of my lawn.
Please.