The Impotence of Being Offended

Before we begin, I have to point out that all this offense taking and sudden sensitivity to otherwise obscure issues is not a new development. In the recent times however, we have almost developed it into an art form. And since it is more than slightly amusing to see everyone convince themselves that we may be able to change anything by taking offense to it, I have taken it upon myself to deliver a lecture on the issue. Now that purpose and warnings are sorted, let’s get cracking.

What was it that Stephen Fry said on being offended?

"It's now very common to hear people saying 'I'm rather offended by that' as if that gives them certain rights -- it's simply a whine, it's no more than a whine. 'I find that offensive'. It has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that' -- well so fucking what?"

Believe me, I have found to my lasting regret that taking offense in itself is an exercise in futility. This probably surprises quite a few people, but I should let it be known that I am not entirely thick-skinned; I do get offended. Often. By little things. Like uncouth nitwits peeing on street corners. But the problem is that once you make your errm… esteemed opinion known to the offenders (say by clapping and shouting “Wah! Wah! loudly) more often than not, people just come up with vexing things that offend you more that what you complained about(like say, turning around and flashing you. And of course all the other people who gathered when you kicked up your little scene.)

Furthermore and more importantly, a lot of times the point we are trying to make gets lost(much like what you may have encountered on my blogposts :|. Including this one.)Take for example the Ambedkar cartoon row. The cartoon depicts Nehru whipping Ambedkar who is sitting on and in turn whipping a snail which is our constitution. The cartoon was probably trying to show how slow the constitution drafting process was and how it frustrated everyone involved. That brilliant little snail metaphor from the cartoon remained relevant even after the drafting was done, because the constitution is a damnably slow read too and it frustrates the hell out of most people who attempt to do so too. (Statutory disclaimer: in saying so I don’t mean to insult anyone who was involved in the process (why start another war, eh?) it is just the nature of these things, it’s very difficult to have a way with words when you are trying to be legally sound.)

Anyhow, getting back on track, the offending point here was that there is an upper class snob, Nehru, whipping a dalit, Ambedkar. And our suddenly sensitive netas made sure a scene was created in the parliament. I am sure the news panel discussions, candle light marches all followed. The offending cartoon was removed. The offending official has his property ransacked. 

Let us for a moment try and imagine how this came up. Some neta, who is of course a champion of the Dalit cause, trying to teach his kid history. Imagine his horror when he suddenly comes across a cartoon of Ambedkar being whipped. This is wrong and must be set right he decides. 

Now I find this disturbing a many levels. First of course is the images we encourage and reinforce through such protests. Some person looks at Ambedkar and immediately thinks Dalit. I am sure he is deserving of much respect. He must have been brilliant, he had to be, to be entrusted with a task so important as the drafting of the constitution. But most of us can remember only one thing about him, as if only that one thing was significant. All because people keep taking offense on his behalf. 

This is entirely similar to the Mamatadi cartoon row. She took offense to a cartoon. She has done a lot of things in the past few year, big news worthy stuff. She fought for some measure of justice for the people of Singur. She overthrew the communist regime. She has been driving around trying to bring about change. And yet, when we think of her, we think only – Oh that Loon.

Then there is the issue of what we believe passes for setting things right. These (non)issues touch a raw nerve because somewhere they link back to reality. The Ambedkar cartoon was found offensive possibly because this is how people from the lower castes were treated once upon a time. Scarily enough, this is how a lot of them are still treated today. Which is wrong. So wrong. Yet, all we can seem to do is to get the cartoon removed. All we asked for is to get the cartoon removed. We do nothing to address that reality; instead we attack any representations of it. We may succeed in getting people not to represent our society in such offensive terms, but just because no one talks about it, doesn’t mean there is no problem.*

So next time you think about taking offense, either take some action along with it (and please make it more worthwhile than a candle march) OR get some Sensodyne for your soul, and for heavens sake SHUT UP and stop the incessant whining.

(*NB please. If you have been paying close attention, which I hope is not the case, you will notice that these observations do not tie in with my initial example. This leads me to believe that I have I have meandered enough for today. Good night.)

(I just realized, I took offense on taking offense. That is so…)