Energy News Apology, page-12

Perhaps you're not very easily offended because of your history and the history of your ilk. See if you can think of some public pronouncement that threatens your freedom or your livelihood or your self-esteem. Imagine letting it go once, twice, several times. But then it just keeps getting said and before you know it your disadvantage has become some sort of collective project.

Saying "no offence, but..." is just an excuse not to think or empathise.

One's capacity to choose not to take offence depends entirely on one's position, power wise. Just as some can't understand all the fuss about black face faux pas committed by ignorant local footballers because the historical significance of the act carries no personal pain for them as a white person, it's easy to forget when you're not a woman that it wasn't very long ago at all that your gender was barred from all manner of things, including the oil business.

It's not about being precious or having to be careful, it's just a matter of thinking a little more deeply about the path others have traveled to a particular public pronouncement and asking yourself, would I let that slide given what it once was designed to do to me and my ilk?

Anyway...off-topic much?