Anecdotally, asking questions has become as "offensive" as making statements. People are so wrapped up in their echo chambers that _anything_ not in line with those "norms" is considered unacceptable. _Everything_ is binary. There's little grey area. Do deviate from the poles is seen as a complete switch to the other side.
> Anecdotally, asking questions has become as "offensive" as making statements.
I think it always has been. :)
You are offering the other person a chance to convince you that they are right.
Maybe they even have a good argument! And you'd never hear it if you don't open yourself up to that possibility.
Just as importantly: you can't expect somebody else to be open to changing their mind, if you aren't open to changing yours.
I don't always succeed in this, and sometimes end up chasing rabbits -- did so elsewhere here, in fact. Other than getting in a bit of writing practice, it was wholly unproductive.
> People are so wrapped up in their echo chambers that _anything_ not in line with those "norms" is considered unacceptable.
True, but like Clausewitz said, war is politics continued by alternate means.
It's worth offending people and taking risks to avoid those alternate means.
Free speech? Free thought isn't PC any more.