Since the dawn of the 21st Century, we have seen the advent of a new phenomenon – identity politics.  We now pigeonhole ourselves as the religious, the right, the left, gun owners, social justice warriors, vegans etc. etc.  A peculiar side effect of this move away from traditional political models has been that the taking of offence has become something of a national pastime.  Was it ever thus? Dr. Simon Potter, a local expert in the giving of offence, discusses…