Offense-generating

An 'offense-generating' act, statement, or situation is one that is likely to cause anger, resentment, or disapproval in others. It pertains to actions or expressions that are perceived as rude, insensitive, disrespectful, or hurtful, leading to feelings of being wronged. This encompasses a broad spectrum, from intentional insults to unintentional faux pas, as well as systems or policies which systematically disadvantage or harm groups. Its effectiveness is predicated on the subjective nature of offense, thus what is 'offense-generating' varies across individuals and cultural contexts. This term highlights the potential for causing emotional and psychological harm to others.

Offense-generating meaning with examples

• The comedian's routine, filled with highly controversial jokes about marginalized groups, was clearly offense-generating, leading to walkouts and widespread criticism on social media. His attempts at humor were perceived as insensitive, contributing to a public backlash against both the comedian and the venue that hosted him, due to the significant offense caused.
• The company's new marketing campaign, which used stereotypes to sell products, was deemed offense-generating by several advocacy groups. They accused the company of perpetuating harmful tropes, creating a negative image, and using the marketing materials that were potentially deeply offensive. This prompted a swift revision to the marketing message.
• His blunt and dismissive response to her sincere expression of concern was profoundly offense-generating, as she felt belittled and disregarded. This disregard created an environment where any further discussion would be strained and difficult. His lack of empathy generated unnecessary conflict.
• The decision to build a new stadium on a sacred Indigenous site proved to be deeply offense-generating, provoking outrage and protests. The insensitivity towards the cultural heritage sparked heated debates. The project was delayed, with the potential for significant damage to the environment and disrespect to cultural heritage.
• The algorithm's bias resulted in discriminatory outcomes during the application screening process, making it inherently offense-generating to certain demographics. People from the protected groups were being wrongly dismissed without their knowledge. The potential harm done by the algorithm included denied opportunities that added to existing systemic injustices.