kdpierre:
If someone writes something offensive, why shouldn't it be criticized? We shouldn't censor writers but we should censor critics?
Criticism is fine. (Well, I would say that, wouldn't I, since I'm a movie critic by profession?) But I prefer to restrict my criticism to matters of style, construction, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc - and even then I often do it as a PM to the writer concerned, rather than in a public post.
'Offensive', I feel, is a term far too freely used these days, as though offending someone is somehow infringing their human rights. My political views would probably offend most right-wingers, just as my views on religion might offend a lot of believers. Come to that, their beliefs often offend me - but so what? I can take it.
So no, kdp, I certainly don't think we should censor critics. But I think anyone planning to criticise should distinguish between "I think this story wasn't well written" and "The subject-matter of this story happens not to coincide with my personal taste". The first is valid grounds for criticising; the second - well, maybe not.