IDK, there are times when one WANTS to be offensive. When one wants to say FUCK YOU. Though usually only to one particular person... usually not a whole group/set of people.
There are words I don't USE because I recognize them as culturally offensive words. but at the same time I view them as JUST words. Words that can be said with out physically harming anyone. Words that if said in a different context can be used in a non-vulgar/offensive sense.
I don't use the words, but not because I think its wrong to just say the word (in all contexts, as well as no context), but because other people do, and I avoid the words in respect to them and as a way to avoid pissing people off and making them hate me.
A lot of words that are considered offensive now used to be perfectly ok words though... like midget, or retard, or moron. In fact, they were considered proper words to use. They weren't made to be offensive, they became offensive because people used them as insults. and this will always happen. It wouldn't surprise me if eventually "mentally handicapped" became just offensive as "retarded" is now.
Also, on a related note the
ThinkB4YouSPeak ads seem so painfully out of touch that they make me want to use the words "fag" and "gay".
You know they're only words man.
fuck-that-shitYou know they're only words man.
fuck-that-shit