txjourneyman,

I hear what you are saying, but it can lead to a verbal straightjacket.
We all should try not to purposefully offend people, its just that the standards of what offends people are shifting and narrowing. Everyone is in a victim group now (except a WASP like myself), and it seems like too many people are carrying around chips on their shoulders looking to "be offended." It also can make people sound so stuffy, careful and boring. Most good jokes are "offensive" to someone.