Thing is, it's easy to offend people. It doesn't take skill, or effort. And it's not constructive; nobody in history has ever said, "you know, your comment about Communists all being retarded really changed my mind. I'm going to read Atlas Shrugged and become a capitalist!"

Usually when I say stuff that pisses people off, it's because (a) a joke fell flat, or was not obviously a joke; (b) I was reacting emotionally and said something I intended to be hurtful; (c) I express an unpopular opinion. As I get older, the reactions to (c) more often make me scrutinize my opinion, to make sure I'm not just stupidly parroting something my fascist dad taught me when I was a child.

I used to play devil's advocate, but it doesn't feel good. It's one thing if both parties go into it in good faith, and it's clear neither is just trying to be a troll, but now? I don't do it without establishing good faith first, and if I suspect someone's just trolling... I just block them. Straight up. It's easy, and I have one fewer irritants in my life.

So, that's me. Why do _you_do it? Are you intentionally trying to rile people up, and if so, why? Are you angry at them? Or do you say you're offending people just by expressing sincerely held opinions, and the snowflakes are getting triggered? Is everyone but you a hypocrite?

I mean, I believe everyone is a hypocrite, but there's a spectrum, right? There's a level where you are trying not to be a hypocrite, but it's impossible to exist and not be at some level. Then there's blatantly lying, saying one thing and doing another. A spectrum, and a lot of it boils down to good faith, and sincerity. Are you angry at faux liberals who you feel should be violently agitating for seizing the means of production, and are calling them out in their bullshit? Or just trying to make them angry so you can hurt them, just a little?