Does it offend you, Yeah? - Consent to comment, complain or compliment.

Does it offend you, Yeah? - not sure if you recall but that was the name of a "flash in a pan" group that formed in the middle of the first decade of the millennium. Having success with a hit called "We Are Rockstars". One of those classic - you don't know you know it but you do - tracks (proceed to now Youtube check it and realise I am right).

Regardless, pub quiz trivia aside, I felt compelled to put my thoughts on a strongly debated topic down on paper today. That is the freedom of speech but more importantly how it lends itself to individual's right to comment on the actions or opinions of others.

I was listening to a few snippets of Stephen Fry quotes the other day and that is fundamentally the reason behind pondering these thoughts. I shall first share this short passage with you to give some context:

“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing 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." - Stephen Fry writing for The Guardian in 2005

This got me thinking, In the dawn of a new era where every individual has the power and the right to express opinion and views via the ever growing medium of social media, what rights do we actually have? What rights should we actually have? Are they used correctly or merely being used as pillars to form an over-critical society that in turn cripples individualism and artistic freedom?

Let's break this theory down to it's simplest form to begin. Your freedom to voice your opinion is one of the greatest advancements of the 21st century. It wasn't always the case that you could spread your view freely, as you are, I am sure, very much aware. That however has now led to individuals passing judgement freely on pretty much any topic without much prior thought or consideration for the person at the other end of the volley.

Freedom of speech was secured so we could speak out against the biggest threats to society, such as Dictatorship, equal rights, racism, homophobia, etc. There were many who thought (and in some cases died) to give us the right to speak freely and it is more actively used now to comment on Janice's latest ugly blazer than it is to speak about how we as a community or society feel wronged by the powers that be.

Not only is this a sad and gross misuse of freedom of speech, it is actually very toxic and we are nurturing a society that allows individuals to throw away the confidence and self-worth of others without a care in the world (usually in the form of a true keyboard warrior assault via Twitter, Snapchat or similar medium.)

Then we have to get onto the whole idea of offence and really, do people have the right to be offended? With freedom of speech surely comes the understanding that you forfeit your right to be offended? Why would you even consider offence to comments that in the grand scale of things are rather trivial? Well that is because we have developed an environment where the importance of appearance and acceptance outweighs the majority of social obligations.

I am a huge fan of Stephen Fry's quote because quite frankly I think people taking offence in a day and age where freedom of speech is more utilised to comment on last night's Eastender's episode is just a waste of energy.

Why not use your freedom to tap away any which words you please and drop me a comment. What do you think? Do we have the right to be offended? Is freedom of speech wasted nowadays? are we so entitled that actually the power of speech and it's freedom has been entirely diluted?

Food for thought.