The sensitivity of society

     In modern society, there is an ever present question: Have we become too sensitive? Today, we had a discussion in Government class that posed this question. Several different examples were used in the context of making jokes in poor taste, such as 9/11, the holocaust, and even the Trail of Tears. My answer in regards to the question of when such jokes are acceptable was a simple: "If nobody is left alive to be offended, why should it matter?" If only our society was that simple.
     I have noticed a recurring trend with humans in general. The ones who are offended the most by a joke are ironically the ones that are not the target of said joke. The sign fiasco at MacAdory is a prime example. The sign should have only been offensive to those of Native American ancestry, yet the Native American community had the most mellow reaction to the sign itself. Another case similar in terms of response would be the release of the video game, Resident Evil 5, in 2009, which, before its release, was accused of being racist, primarily by caucasians, just because it was a zombie game that took place in Africa. This accusation became even sillier when the game was released, as protestors would soon be reminded that not all citizens of Africa are black.
    Why is this an issue? My theory is that humans love to jump at any chance to involve themselves in anything where they can voice their thoughts, even if their thoughts are not required. I would compare this to numerous high school accounts I have witnessed where individuals have come to another's defense when they are needed the least. Sensitivity in itself, is appropriate, but when it breeds rigidity, that is where a line has to be drawn.