I think it's really just a matter of society raising people to be afraid/offended by everything, rather than learning to call a bluff and having some guts.

There's actually another thread going on atm in regards to death threats, where I'm finding the same thing applies.
People can make a baseless threat over the tiniest thing, and instead of people laughing at it as the obvious bluff it is it leaves people scared, and running to authorities and other people for support. 

Not to call anyone specifically a coward here, I don't think this is so much a case of individuals being cowards but rather people have just accepted that the normal reaction to such a thing is to tuck in their tail and run, despite the risk being absolutely minimal. It's just what people have been getting told is the accepted reaction, so without even thinking about it, it's just what people do.