Breakthrough cure for 'thin-skin syndrome'

Forget about global warming, population control and bird flu -- a new crisis of pandemic proportions is threatening Western civilisation. I refer to the startling dermatological discovery of 'thin-skin syndrome' among the hand-wringing PC classes. The main symptom of the disease is a compulsion to take offence for the slightest, most obscure reason. A major outbreak has now been confirmed in Brighton and Hove (where else?). The local council wants to scrap the titles Mr and Mrs because they might offend the 'transgender community', although even in Brighton there can't be that many people who don't know whether they are male or female.
 

Since there seems little hope of a cure for thin-skin syndrome in the near future, I have come up with my own remedy for sufferers: a crash course in journalism. Workshops would include many hours 'doorstepping', with doors repeatedly slammed in their faces and obscene insults shouted through letterboxes. Then they would have to toil over news reports and features to meet impossible deadlines -- only to see their work instantly spiked by ruthless sub-editors.
 

Role-playing sessions could include the PC wimps being manhandled by security staff and police officers, plus simulated riot situations involving being spat at by political extremists hurling bricks and bottles as well as insults. The result of the exercise -- apart from putting people off a thankless, underpaid career as a reporter -- would concentrate the minds of the faint-hearted on a single message: that none of it was personal.The flak was directed not at them but at what they represent -- a free Press doing its job in a democratic society.

When no personal offence is intended, none should be taken. So cut out the hand-wringing and get over it!