There’s also this element of framing surrounding the word “offensive”. when someone is put on the spot and asked if they find something “offensive”, it’s kind of a socially precarious moment. If they say “yes”, it could lead so challenges and confrontations (“why? Can’t you see that it’s just a word? No one’s getting hurt, it’s just a game”), but if they say “no”, the conversation will probably end, without any uncomfortable follow-ups.