People have become far too quick to take offence at things and society as a whole has become far too quick to pander to the professionally offended. As a result everyone tiptoes around the sensibilities of the hurt and wounded and people are afraid to speak.
I am no advocate of people saying what they like regardless of how it may be hurtful to others, but there has to be a balance.
Agreed, but use of stereotypes in an ignorant and bigoted way is not balance, that's just ignorant. Just because people don't understand WHAT they are actually saying due to that very society you mention becoming more oblivious about how certain things actually hurt people, doesn't make it right. This one had nothing to do with tiptoeing around sensitivity, but was just a dumb remark that reflects how society treats people that are 'different' and how they become synonimous to things that are bad/uncool/unpleasant.
I'm sure you wouldn't like it if people say about an obviously very drunk guy, that he's probably Irish, either...
Me, I hate those stereotypes.. 'guy does this, oh then he MUST be that' ..just beacuse people ar too afraid to actually get to know (about) people, and look past their own fears or reservations about those who are not like them.