News item: On the airwaves of WFAN radio earlier this week, Mike Francesa used the term “Oriental” and “Oriental Americans” to describe our country’s Asian population.

And didn’t know he was being, at best, insensitive.

Which prompts one to ask: Is it still possible, even in this age of information, technology and purportedly higher levels of awareness, sensitivity and tolerance, to remain that obtuse?

Answer: Apparently.

Bet he’s not alone, either.

The discussion stemmed from Monday’s Supreme Court ruling that allowed “The Slants,” an Oregon-based, Asian American rock band, to keep its name, citing that a federal trademark law banning offensive names is unconstitutional.

The Slants, denied a trademark because their name was considered offensive, argued that the law, established 70 years ago, violates free-speech rights. The Court voted 8-0 in agreement.

“The commercial market is well stocked with merchandise that disparages prominent figures and groups, and the line between commercial and non-commercial speech is not always clear, as this case illustrates,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote. “If affixing the commercial label permits the suppression of any speech that may lead to political or social ‘volatility,’ free speech would be endangered.”

And while the term “slant” may strike many of us as odious, band founder Simon Tam said in several published reports that his goal “is to reclaim a derisive slur and transform it into a badge of ethnic pride.”

The ruling’s tentacles will find their way into sports. The trademark office canceled the Washington Redskins’ trademarks in 2014 after believing the word “Redskins” is disparaging to Native Americans.

This is how the discussion began on WFAN. As recounted in the New York papers, here is Francesa:

“The feeling is that it’s going to be the same answer to the same question (regarding the Redskins),” Francesa said. “The only other debate is that they were talking about themselves. They all were Oriental Americans who were part of the group. … They were some kind of a musical band from Oregon, and they could not trademark the name ‘Slant,’ even though they were a group of young Oriental Americans.”

A producer, per a published report, later told Francesa that “Oriental” and “Oriental Americans” is considered offensive.

“You’re telling me that is considered a slight if you call someone an Oriental American?” Francesa said. “What is the proper term then, so I want to get it proper since Oriental American is now considered a slight? What would be not a slight?”

Ah, the sounds of disbelief from the pedestal of the majority.

“Asian American. … So let’s make that an Asian American band,” he said. “You’re telling me that using the word Oriental American is a slight? … If they would like me to say Asian Americans, all power to it … then I’ll say Asian Americans, whatever makes people happy. Has it gotten to that point where that would be considered a slight? Oh, boy. But if it has to be Asian American, then it’s Asian American.”

This story, sadly, will be fodder for many anonymous social commentators who will undoubtedly keep their boats anchored in the same old lagoon, the one where they’re both loud and wrong at the same time.

They’ll hammer away at dizzying levels of political correctness … how you just can’t say anything anymore to anybody … it wasn’t like this when we were growing up … people are too easily offended … blah, blah, blah. Yup. All the greatest hits of people who grew up in the majority and have neither the time nor the interest in tolerating anybody who isn’t part of their fraternity.

And that’s the point.

There are just some things that even the privileged shouldn’t say.

You want to talk about personal responsibility? It’s not merely about being self-sufficient, paying your taxes and keeping your lawn manicured. It’s about knowing what you can and cannot say. Should and should not say. Not that hard, especially if you take the time to learn about other people and other cultures who don’t necessarily look, act or sound the same. It’s the basic difference between “get off my lawn” and “nice to meet you.”

To be fair: I’m disappointed in “The Slants” for their choice of names. It may — and probably does — offend older Asians who believe that term is offensive. But who am I to judge? I’ve never walked the metaphorical mile.

I have learned this much from the kids I cover in our schools: cultural paradigms are not applied equally.

The N-word, for example, has different contexts that are essential to our understanding. When it is uttered by a white person, it's a one-word anthem of oppression, the most hateful word in our language. When it is uttered by a black person, it is often a term of endearment or friendship.

ESPN.com's Jemelle Hill, a black host at the network, said this once on Outside the Lines: "There's a segment of the population, mostly it's the white population, really, that has been told they can never use this word under any circumstances. That's the genesis of this conversation. You hear 'if (rapper) Common can use it and Jay-Z can use it, why can't I use it?' They're acting as if we don't have all kinds of cultural double standards.

"It's that way with women, gays, any group. If you ever hear them in the company of each other, there are going to be things said that others can't say. I think it's culturally arrogant to assume just because you are in the room, you get to use the word. That's not how it works.”

We all need to absorb that.

Because I’m not interested, really, in where you grew up. Or when. Common decency suggests you learn what’s in and out of bounds. Hell, even members of Congress, who generally can’t agree that NBA players are tall, passed bipartisan legislation last May banning the terms “Oriental” and “Negro” from federal law.

This is 2017, people. We’re supposed to know better.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro