What's Offensive?

It's always bugs me that we can't say somethings because it's "ignorant" or "offensive." But honestly, do we even know why it's offensive? What does it mean for something to be offensive? 

The definition of Offensive is "causing someone to feel deeply hurt, upset, or angry" or "actively aggressive; attacking." Now say I'm naming my food truck the Communist Panda. Or I see someone write their student ID number to sign in, rather than writing their actual name like everyone else, and I say they're like a Nazi Refugee. Or maybe I make a joke and say a fly, that keeps bugging me and will die because because it's smaller than me and I'll squish it, is like a suicide bomber. Why are these offensive? I'm just trying to make a joke, comment on the world around me, trying to have a clever name for a food truck that I want everyone to remember because it's so clever. I am not attacking anyone personally. So these must be offensive because someone feels hurt or upset. Ok, why? I'm just refering to the factual comparison. Suicide bombers attack someone innocent and die by doing so. So does that fly that keeps trying to eat my food and give me rabies. The nazi refugees did have numbers as names, and that one kid who signed in with a number is identifying with the number because they signed in with it. In making these comparisons, I'm not saying the person is a horrendous person, nor am I saying they are victims. Why does this hurt anyone?

I find it nice that we live in a world where victims of discrimination, stereotypes, and other slurrs can turn to society for moral support. But we also need to think about the suspect offender. Doesn't he/she get a say in defending themselves without the bias of everyone thinks the victim is innocent, so the offender must have been bad and offensive and mean. Maybe both are neutral and the victim is just sensitive.

"Words are only as offensive as the intent or, if you're super sensitive, as offensive as you allow them to be," quoted by a babycenter user. As inappropriate as Donald Trump is, he is correct in saying we cannot just go by what is politically correct. We need a moment to stop and think about why it's correct. And let the "politically wrong" people have a fair say. Otherwise, the "politically correct" will be like the initial anti-discrimination society, where whites are hated and treated as blacks were treated. This is not right. This is not the solution. The solution is discussion. And we should only be offended if people make personal assumptions or attack us personally. Or someone you care about is attacked. 

What I find offensive? If someone assumes that all asians are smart, and comes up to a asian person and says "Why are you all so smart?" That is offensive because it's attributing something to a person that isn't true. Or if you wear a sari but know nothing about indian culture. But if you know the culture and speak the language, it's fine, there's nothing offensive. If someone finds it discomforting, that's more jealousy, not really offensive emotions. 

Now, the reason I am writing this is because I commonly hear people making jokes that seem offensive, but everyone laughs like it's ok. But when I try to make similar jokes, somehow everyone can spot that I've said something wrong. Comment if you have similar experiences, or would like to explain why something is offensive to you and why something might not be offensive.