Why are people so offended by the word "ignorant"?

Why are people so offened by the word "ignorant" when it clearly means "lack of knowledge"?

Because it also means "unaware or uninformed". This has a much more personal angle on it because it doesn't simply mean lack of knowledge ( I know nothing about astrophysics; does this make me an ignorant person?); it can mean that the person has somehow been exposed to the facts but is too uneducated or slow to understand them.

So, rather than just being a simple solitary definition of "lacking knowledge", it can be taken as a very harsh insult.

l don't get that way. My cousin says that to me and l don't get upset.

yea my family is the same way, but you would b surprised how many people get upset.

They think it is an insult saying that you only care about yourself and don't take notice of others. I don't think that tho.

=]

Because people are stupid.

Or...
IGNORANT.

It has negative connotation.

Because ignorant people don't know the definition of ignorant.