Have you seen ‘Christmas Offence’ with your own eyes?

Last week I had quite a long and heated conversation with a friend about wishing people ‘Merry Christmas’. He works in a customer facing environment and said that every year up til now he had passed on the greeting to people in his store, or on the phone, at the end of each conversation. But no more. When I asked him why, his response was ‘Because everyone is too quick to take offence now”  I then asked him how many times it had happened to him directly that someone had taken offence when he wished them Happy Christmas….silence was his response.

I’m honestly curious…how many times, have you all, with your very own two eyes and two ears witnessed personally someone taking offence as Christmas greetings?

I can answer on my behalf…absolutely zero times. Never. Ever.

On the flip side I can cite several instances of the total opposite though. My Muslim co-worker last year who was probably the most excited person in the office about the Christmas get-together and party. My Hindu boss this year who keeps complaining that the office isn’t ‘Christmassy’ enough yet and in fact, just yesterday, emailed everyone in the department wishing them a great Christmas holiday. Then there are my Jewish friends who are busy dressing up in Christmas outfits and joining in the parties and fun in Second Life.  I even hear that a fair few atheists have a Christmas tree up and will share a few gifts with their families and friends.

But if you read the traditional media or social media you would think it was rife. Why is that? Why does the media perpetuate this ‘offence culture’ and why do we want to believe it so much?

Why trust the rumour mill, the press, the media and ‘memes’ so much rather than what we witness first hand? Based on what I see in my tiny lil corner of RL I’ll continue to wish people a Merry Christmas. It makes me feel good, it usually makes the receiver of the message feel good and in the very unlikely event that I offend someone I apologise in advance but I hope whatever your faith you have a very happy, peaceful and joyous time.

Credits: 

Body – Maitreya Lara

Skin – Lara Hurley Maitreya applier and Christy Catwa Head Applier

Eyes – IKON – Spectral Eyes

Hair – TRUTH HAIR – Bernadette **NEW** in store release

Top – Emery – Bardot Top

Pants – SPIRIT – Tyra High Jeans **NEW** at Kustom9 

Glasses – BOOM – Minimalist Glasses

Shoes – fri.day – Cora Heels

Location – Crestwick Island