[General] I feel insulted

[suniljain]

I feel insulted.
I feel offended.

Do these sentences have the same meaning? Can we use "insulted" and "offended" interchangeably?

 

[emsr2d2]

Have you looked both words up in a good dictionary? What did you find? Tell us how you think they're used and whether you think, after some research, that they mean the same. Back it up with links to dictionary definitions.

 

[Tdol]

In some contexts, but if I were offered a miserable salary increase, I'd feel insulted, not offended.

 

[suniljain]

Have you looked both words up in a good dictionary? What did you find? Tell us how you think they're used and whether you think, after some research, that they mean the same. Back it up with links to dictionary definitions.

I would say that "insulting somebody" sounds to be an intentional action to me, while "offending someone" is often something unintentional.

 

[emsr2d2]

I would say that "insulting somebody" sounds [STRIKE]to be[/STRIKE] like an intentional action to me, while "offending someone" is often something unintentional.

That's a pretty good way of looking at it, although it's entirely possible to offend someone intentionally. Can you give us some examples of each?

 

[suniljain]

That's a pretty good way of looking at it, although it's entirely possible to offend someone intentionally. Can you give us some examples of each?

Ram's ridiculous comment about my religion offended me. (intentional act)

I feel insulted when he left the party without informing me. (unintentional act)

 

[emsr2d2]

1. Ram's ridiculous comment about my religion offended me. (intentional act)

2. I [STRIKE]feel[/STRIKE] felt insulted when he left the party without [STRIKE]informing[/STRIKE] telling me. (unintentional act)

I think you've mixed up your own two definitions. In your previous post, you said you took offence to be unintentional and insult to be intentional. I agreed that that was a reasonable way to look at it. Your two examples above use them the other way round.

I'm not keen on sentence 2, intentional or not. I just don't think "insulted" is a reasonable reaction to that act. You could be annoyed or upset that someone left without saying goodbye, but insulted is a bit over the top.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I would say that "insulting somebody" sounds to be an intentional action to me, while "offending someone" is often something unintentional.

Either one can be intentional or unintentional. So: Go back to your dictionary!

(And remember, there are very few pairs of English terms that always mean exactly the same thing.)

 

[suniljain]

I think you've mixed up your own two definitions. In your previous post, you said you took offence to be unintentional and insult to be intentional. I agreed that that was a reasonable way to look at it. Your two examples above use them the other way round.

I'm not keen on sentence 2, intentional or not. I just don't think "insulted" is a reasonable reaction to that act. You could be annoyed or upset that someone left without saying goodbye, but insulted is a bit over the top.

I understood that you asked for examples of other way round; so accordingly I tried to give examples of "offended" and "insulted"

 

[emsr2d2]

I would say that "insulting somebody" sounds to be an intentional action to me, while "offending someone" is often something unintentional.

Can you give us some examples of each?

I apologise for confusing you. My request for examples referred to your understanding of the two words that you gave in the previous post. My comment about it being possible to offend someone intentionally was merely a bit of additional information.

 

[Tdol]

Ram's ridiculous comment about my religion offended me. (intentional act)

Not necessarily- an atheist could easily say something about a religion that accidentally caused a negative reaction.

 

[emsr2d2]

Not necessarily- an atheist could easily say something about a religion that accidentally caused a negative reaction.

I'm quite certain I've done so on a number of occasions.

 

[Tdol]

Richard Dawkins usually does it on purpose, but he doesn't speak for us all.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Richard Dawkins usually does it on purpose, but he doesn't speak for us all.

I know the type. My parents were like that — my mom, especially.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I would say that "insulting somebody" sounds to be an intentional action to me, while "offending someone" is often something unintentional.

Suniljain, sometimes the two words can mean the same thing. Sometimes, they're different, depending on context. Here are some situations to think about:

1. Fred says something insulting to you. But you know that Fred doesn't realize it was an insult. It was not intentional. So maybe you'll be offended and maybe not. Fred insulted you, but whether you're offended is your choice.

2. Fred says something offensive, but it's not be directed at you. He might say, "I hate Norwegians." That insults Norwegians, but you're not Norwegian. So you have not been insulted. Norwegians have. But if you don't like bigots, you might be offended, anyway, even though you were not insulted.

3. Fred tells a joke that appalls you. It's not an insult, but it's in very bad taste, and you think it's offensive. So you have not been insulted, but you are certainly offended.

4. Fred hasn't washed his shirt in two weeks. It smells bad. In fact, it reeks. The stench offends you. So you tell him, and he gets mad because you have insulted him. You are offended, he is insulted.​

The words are used in other ways, as well. So the best thing you can do is pay attention to how people use them. Sometimes one is right, sometimes the other, and sometimes either one will do.

And again, consult dictionaries. They know a lot!

 

[jutfrank]

I'd say a core part of the meaning of insult is that the insulted person feels the insult is personal.

The insult may have been a deliberate attack and it may have been a result of a lack of due respect, but either way, the insulted person feels the insulter was in the wrong.

 

[Tdol]

I know the type. My parents were like that — my mom, especially.

Mine too.

 

[Rover_KE]

See also this thread.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I'd say a core part of the meaning of insult is that the insulted person feels the insult is personal.

The insult may have been a deliberate attack and it may have been a result of a lack of due respect, but either way, the insulted person feels the insulter was in the wrong.

Well put.