Common Courtesy

I noticed today when I called Microsoft's automated activation line that I had no problem hanging up mid-action (Yes I call the activation line on a fairly frequent basis).  There is no point saying "please" or "thank you" because it has no effect and really feels funny to try to be courteous to a machine.  It reminded me of all the times I have been frustrated because the phone menu takes me is circles (especially any phone company) and it becomes nearly impossible to actually talk to a person. If I have the patience to wait the extended time (the most I have ever waited is 45 minutes), listening to the "your call is very important to us, please wait for the next available representative",  courtesy becomes forced. Not only does it mean that an unfeeling, unthinking machine is "helping" you, you are placed on hold for extended periods of time without the courtesy of hearing a real breathing person who should be able to understand more than mono-syllable pre-programmed machine who does not care if you are on hold, hang up, or speak rudely to it.  With this I realized that courtesy is becoming a lost art, starting with the phone.

Am I offended or did I take offence?

I have often pondered the difference between being offended and taking offense.  First of all being offended (You offended me!) seems to place all the burden on the other person and removes responsibility or choice from me.  This doesn't seem right to me for the simple reason that I have the ability to make my own choices and am the master of my destiny.  I believe in free will and freedom of choices. 

This leads me to look at taking offense. If I take offense, it implies that I choose to take offense.  So is taking offense acceptable?  

The beginning

Well I guess I will jump on the blog bandwagon. Since this is my blog,  I can meander through various topics and be dis-jointed with incomplete thoughts that do not make sense.  I find it easier that way.