Political Correctness
- Thread starter Ultramann
- Start date
And soon, it will lose the manners.
There is nothing with political correctness if one wants to be inclusive and respectful towards others. However, as noted above, some people can take it too seriously over minor, and ultimately nonsensical things such as a customer losing their shit when a cashier wished them "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays". First-World problems.
What comes to mind is something that doesn't exist, at least not in the way people use the word. It brings to mind people who, for some reason or another, are resistant to making minor, painless adjustments for the sake of tolerance and inclusiveness. It makes me think of people who are unsophisticated and resistant to change, and really only care about themselves and their own priorities.
I think this is generally accurate, but incomplete. There is another side.
For some it's simply an issue of free speech. I like free speech, if for no other reason than it makes it really clear who the crazy people are...
For some it's the nitpicking and finding fault in statements which are clearly not intended to offend. People can find offense anywhere they wish.
Now I don't go out of my way to offend people, but I also don't wring my hands and worry about every little comment that could possibly offend someone. There are 7 billion people on the planet. Everything is going to offend someone, somewhere...
I choose not to let other people have so much power over me that they can change my emotional state because they use a word I don't like, or a phrase I disapprove of. Of course I don't always succeed, but that's my philosophy: I don't need to change your speech, I need to get comfortable with ideas that are different than mine.
Also, I need to pick and choose my battles.
This is what I think when people start accusing others of being/wanting "political correctness", rather than actually discussing why certain topics being brought up. With that said, yeah some people blow things way out of proportion, there's no denying that, but as it is I feel like the term is used as a blanket statement to deflect or avoid, especially when it comes to racial, sexual, gender, or class inequalities (doubly so if those inequalities are the result of an institution).
I have no problem with the idea of using social or peer pressure to stigmatize speech or behavior that would be considered politically incorrect, like the use of racially derogatory terms. However I would strongly oppose using the force of law to do the same thing as that would be in violation of the first amendment.
Politically Correct means something that is considered correct by political ideologues, but is crazy in reality. Unfortunately, many people use the term as a political weapon-- in other words, to describe something socially benign in an attempt to discredit it.
Not completely sure what it is, but I don't practice it. If someone insists that I should, I start practising it even less.
It makes me think: "Fuck that shit, I'm out of here."
I think this is generally accurate, but incomplete. There is another side.
For some it's simply an issue of free speech. I like free speech, if for no other reason than it makes it really clear who the crazy people are...
For some it's the nitpicking and finding fault in statements which are clearly not intended to offend. People can find offense anywhere they wish.
Now I don't go out of my way to offend people, but I also don't wring my hands and worry about every little comment that could possibly offend someone. There are 7 billion people on the planet. Everything is going to offend someone, somewhere...
I choose not to let other people have so much power over me that they can change my emotional state because they use a word I don't like, or a phrase I disapprove of. Of course I don't always succeed, but that's my philosophy: I don't need to change your speech, I need to get comfortable with ideas that are different than mine.
Also, I need to pick and choose my battles.
I understand that there are people who overreact and are oversensitive, I guess I just don't think of it as political correctness. I see it as people who are oversensitive, or maybe similarly self-centered. The only time I see the phrase "political correctness" being thrown around are in cases like I originally stated.
I do agree that words often have more power over us than they should. But in cases of political correctness, I feel like the people who think some of these phrases don't matter are the ones who can afford to think like that.
I'm not saying we shouldn't try to be the bigger person in every situation. I believe that self-improvement is a long and continual journey that we all should be on. But I honestly do feel that many people are so far removed from things such as racial and religious discrimination, or persecution, that it's hard for us to imagine why these words can be so powerful. They are backed by lifetimes of experiences that go far beyond words.
I want to clarify that this post isn't meant to be a disagreement, and I appreciate your opinions on the matter. This is the way a discussion should be. You've given me some things to think about and I hope I have returned the favor, even if only in a small way.
If someone is a racist, I'd prefer he shares his thoughts. It's not frank to hide it, and if I held a racist belief (which always or almost always implies a wrong belief), I'd prefer if people correct me, and if I held a racist feeling, I'd prefer if people would help me put it out. Being a political correct racist is bad. If I hide my racism, I'll remain a racist, if I share it, I'll probably stop being one. If I'm a sexist who doesn't believe in using a gender-neutral pronoun, I prefer to be convinced I'm wrong in doing it and not just to conform.
The whole thing can be educational though, even overreactions and nitpicking. I was always startled how some countries go crazy over political correctness, and thought they were way beyond actual racism -- I felt “Hey, I'm not a racist, but I don't agree with those people!” But when I sat down and thought about it, I found some subtleties that are best to be avoided whether they are racism or not, and even that I was a bit racist without realizing it.
I still strongly disagree with some of the expectations people have, and I even think that some of the political correctness is actually disguised racism itself.
P.S. I'll never stop discriminating Star Wars prequel fans. Never ever. Can't convince me I'm wrong.
The whole thing can be educational though, even overreactions and nitpicking. I was always startled how some countries go crazy over political correctness, and thought they were way beyond actual racism -- I felt “Hey, I'm not a racist, but I don't agree with those people!” But when I sat down and thought about it, I found some subtleties that are best to be avoided whether they are racism or not, and even that I was a bit racist without realizing it.
I still strongly disagree with some of the expectations people have, and I even think that some of the political correctness is actually disguised racism itself.
P.S. I'll never stop discriminating Star Wars prequel fans. Never ever. Can't convince me I'm wrong.
Are you suggesting the phrase "Political Correctness" is politically incorrect?
This pretty much sums up how I feel. Political correctness puts a chokehold on free speech and is itself a weapon used by some ideologues to try to shut up, ridicule, or shame those they do not agree with. It's basically the same behavior indulged in by the other extreme--but disguised in niceties that keep people from calling it out for what it really is.
Yes, exactly. This has been my point all along. When the whole PC thing started, it WAS in fact about acceptance and inclusion. But since then, an entire generation has grown up whose parents taught them these values, but either did nothing to teach them when to pull back, or the kids themselves just do not know how. Now, for most people under 35, whenever they hear an argument, no matter the cause, or who is involved, they scream "You racist!" without bothering to learn the facts behind said argument.
THIS is why I am turning against the PC concept. Over the years, the original message has been lost.
It's not just "kids." It's adults, too. In droves.
PC is getting out of hand. It may have been started in a way that would have helped others, but with the 'PC Police' anything and everything gets tagged/attacked as do the people that have said something that someone else may not like.
And what is scary is when someone says something that is obviously meant to poke fun at the PC and someone else takes it completely seriously
And what is scary is when someone says something that is obviously meant to poke fun at the PC and someone else takes it completely seriously
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