So we want to watch what we say, we are so concerned about what someone else feels. I suppose having some empathy for someone else's feelings can be a good thing. The question is though should we stop to think if it is beneficial to the other party?
We seem to live in a society now that puts so much emphasis on a persons feelings, what if our heart felt concern for that individual is limiting that persons ability to cope with adversities. I live in a country now that gives awards to kids for just trying. What values are we instilling in them when they are rewarded for just trying? Let's be honest when we become adults we don't coddle each other, if we coddle them their entire adolescence then how are our children prepared for adulthood?
As an example in the United States last year I remember reading about college students that needed to have puppies brought in as support because a certain political candidate had won an election. These our our future leaders, how can you lead anything when you need a puppy to console you because your ideological candidate didn't win?
What about the other person, are we not suppressing their feeling and their right to honestly express themselves by publicly shaming them for having an opinion that is polar opposites of what we believe? If we can't express ourselves honestly and in an open forum without facing ridicule how are we expected to grow as a species.
Do we not learn from each other even when it hurts. Are we not suppressing freedoms when we censure ideas that run contrary to the mainstream. At one point in time if you spoke publicly about the world being round you could be hung until dead because you were a heretic. We now see the falsehood in limiting that idea, so what has changed in my lifetime that we are back to heresy for having a differing opinion?
Now we must understand that having a differing opinion doesn't mean attacking an individual on a personal level. I frequently read comments where someone will attack the person instead of offering opposing evidence to support their position. If we want to be treated like adults then we need to act like them.