I agree - and have written about the fact that being offended or being offensive is often a rational choice based on irrational emotion. However, I think words themselves carry a great deal of power. Words in the right hands can instil violent actions in others - this is something society needs to guard against.

And that's not a leftist or rightist argument, that's a general argument from the centre ground. At the moment the left and the right are fairly equally matched in their desire to dictate the language that can and can't be used. Great article, very enjoyable.