The gist of the conversation was that there will always be a group or organization offended by something. No matter what you do, somebody will have something to say.

For example, I knew someone who went into a raging fit because somebody called her "black." WellÉshe was black. Nobody knew calling her black would be so terrible. Unfortunately, for her it was. Here was her explanation.

She hated being called black, African American, colored, or any other politically correct or incorrect term. She was "American" and did not want to be classified or categorized by her skin tone.

Okay, this is fine, except the next thing that she said was, "All ya'll white peopleÉ" Hmm, doesn't something seem wrong with that picture?

Another less sensitive example comes with social cliques. Something always prominent in my mind is the "freaks, rejects, punks, rebels" -- whatever your name may be for them. They were that group in high school, and they still get weird looks today when you see them walking through the mall or down the street. They get pissed off when people stare at them or give them grotesque looks, yet they do everything they can to evoke a reaction from the "average Joe" (or Jane, for all you feminists).

Why are they offended when they want people to be shocked? I don't know. However, I am intrigued to find out, so if anyone does know, please inform everyone.

To get straight to the point, people are offended by everything. Everyone takes everything personally. When people do find something they are offended by (which is not hard to do), we feel the need to find 50 other people who think like we do (despite that struggle to be "unique") and form an organization to tell everyone ways to respect their group.

After that organization is formed, people find it only appropriate to form an opposing organization to battle it. Thus, we start a never-ending battle to fight about whose opinion is right or wrong. In all fairness, I have only one suggestion. We need one more group.

I propose a group be formed for all people offended by people who are offended. Yes, these people exist. You know who you are. It's everyone out there saying, "I'm tired of every statement being turned into an attack on someone else. Why can't people just let it go for once?"

If you are offended because others were offended by what you said, bring it on. If you are offended merely because others are offended by something ridiculous, come on and join. Let's exercise the first amendment.

Face it, people are offended by some stupid stuff. No one will say anything anymore for fear of stepping on someone's toes. Ignore all that and let our opinions be known!

I'm not saying go out and crudely confront people on every issue around. Some opinions need to be respected.

However, the whole idea of insulting someone has, to some extent, actually grown humorous. Single people are offended by "public displays of affection," the poor are offended by the rich, the conservatives are offended by the liberals, and everyone is offended by Eminem. So where do we draw the line? When do we stop being offended and start facing reality? Not everyone's going to love you for what you are.

Some people will always love being "black," couples will always love letting everyone know how they feel, and Eminem is going to say whatever he can to get you riled up, because otherwise he wouldn't have anything to rap about. If people didn't have clashing opinions, the world would be nothing but carbon copy opinions. Then what would we talk about over the dinner table?

Miranda Mills is a freshman.