Have I offended you?

March 28, 2013

If you always stay in the middle of the road
where it’s safe
you’ll never offend a soul.

But if you work on the edges?
If you have a position?

Chances are someone’s gonna get pissed.

It’s not like we mean to offend.
It’s just that opinions are like butts:
everyone has one.
And if theirs doesn’t agree with yours,
well,
there could be conflict.

We’re defined by our positions on important subjects,
that’s what I think.

Healthy conflict spurs creativity.
Helps birth new solutions.
Can serve as a catalyst for progress.
That’s what I teach my team building students.

Nothing ever got done by avoiding conflict.

So, if I’ve offended you,
well, it’s not intentional.

And if I haven’t?
I will.

11 comments on “Have I offended you?
  1. So right, Carol! Eventually I’ll get around to offending (or just annoying) everyone in my sphere, but that’s just the human condition.

  2. Ally says:

    Love this post. So true.

    I have no doubt that I’ve offended some people along the way. Sometimes I’ve done it with grace– and other times not so much. Being a catalyst is tricky business, but worthwhile for a well lived life.

  3. Jane Gassner says:

    I. Love. This. Post. I’m still a work in progress re accepting my straightforwardness. And I’ve learned–at last!–that there are opinions I don’t need to share. But it’s tough being the one who tells her truth when rest of the world seems content to say, “whatever….”

  4. YEp, I have gotten in trouble with many by sticking to my opinion. Sometimes I am even wrong…and can see that afterwards. At least I wasn’t afraid to meet the idea head on..right?

  5. The wisdom of age, right? 😉 and Shel, we haven’t yet met IRL but one of the best things about you is that you have a position.

  6. Wonderful, I admire your guts and honesty. It is so true, you have to tell it like it is. Not everyone can love us, go for the gusto!

  7. Jennifer Comet Wagner says:

    I agree. It is so important to share opinions, no matter how controversial. How boring life would be if we didn’t.

  8. Holly Parper says:

    I am quite sure I have offended folks, although never intentionally. I just have this problem that my thoughts are so fast they tend to come out of my mouth before my brain has a chance to filter them.

    Oh well, at least no one has to ever wonder if I said something simply to ‘be nice’…because if you ask me something, you are going to get my honest answer.

    My grandmother was as blunt as I am, she used to say (a quote very similar to yours) “Opinions are like A**holes, everyone has one, and most of them stink!”

    Great post!

    Holly

  9. Elle says:

    You have not offended me yet. I’m starting to feel left out. Don’t you care enough about me to offend me????

    Great points by the way. I may have to start working on offending more people myself. I’m starting to get bored.

  10. You are so creative. A favorite observance: When you stay silent regarding something you believe in, because you don’t want to rock the boat, you are actually agreeing with your detractors.

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