The right to offend and ‘the coddling of the American mind’

Apologetics, like comedy, requires that we are able to challenge points of view, express unusual opinions and think outside of the box. Apologetics, also like comedy, is not to the taste of the easily offended.

In February 2021 Merseyside Police had to issue an apology over a poster campaign which had claimed ‘Being Offensive is an Offence’. The force had released an unfortunate media picture of a police van bearing the false claim and including four menacing police offers, one holding what could be interpreted as a cane. In the wake of widespread criticism it was withdrawn and the apology issued. According to the Crown Prosecution Service finding something offensive does not mean you are a victim of a crime and causing someone offence does not mean you have committed a crime.

All this sounds like common sense, which leads one to wonder what educated, well-paid public servant ever thought it right to create a poster bearing the statement ‘Being Offensive is an Offence’ in the first place? To answer that we need to pay attention to shifts in the climate of academia where there can be a reluctance to think out loud or express contrary views.