Backlash against Politically Correct

[fantome profane]

I have a rather different impression: IMO, the vast majority of political correctness is just a matter of treating people with respect and calling out a-holeish behaviour for what it is.

I think that most of the complaints about political correctness are either focused on extreme examples or make out political correctness to be something other than it is. For instance, I see plenty of stuff on Facebook these days complaining about the idea of "trigger warnings". I have several friends who have been through rape; there's no way that anyone who actually cares about them would want them to re-live that. I have a very hard time seeing complaints about "trigger warnings" as anything other than complaining about having to be considerate toward people.

If someone feels as uncomfortable making a sexist, racist, or anti-LGBT joke as they made other people feel back when they thought these were okay, so what? I'd say the situation is improved.

To clarify my position, I see it as both. I am not saying that everything that is PC is dishonest or insincere. Much of what is considered PC is in fact also factually correct, honest, and an honest attempt to raise the standard of communication through respect and understanding. But much of it is dishonest, insincere or flat out wrong. But there is also much that is dishonest and insincere, bull****, that goes under the label of politically correct.

And my point is that people should be aware of this, and not let the political correctness or incorrectness of any statement or idea prevent them from looking for the bull**** and calling it out if when they find it.

 

[Revoltingest]

And just for reference.....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness

 

[wicketkeeper]

Political Correctness is another nail in the coffin of free speech and it is also about control, just like the no smoking ban in pubs etc. Control. I used to enjoy a chat, a pint and a cigar or pipe in my local. Obviously that is no longer a possibility.

Sadly many people are so dumbed down they just obey and never question anything.

I'm looking forward to leaving this messed up world, and I don't want to come back !!!

 

[Twilight Hue]

Political Correctness is another nail in the coffin of free speech and it is also about control, just like the no smoking ban in pubs etc. Control. I used to enjoy a chat, a pint and a cigar or pipe in my local. Obviously that is no longer a possibility.

Sadly many people are so dumbed down they just obey and never question anything.

I'm looking forward to leaving this messed up world, and I don't want to come back !!!

I like to fight PC like a marine.

Mom...please pass the ******* gravy!

=0D

 

[Shadow Wolf]

just like the no smoking ban in pubs etc

Smoking is a public health issue. We've banned lead in paint, asbestos in building material, and many other things that are public health issues and no one is shedding a tear over it. If you want to smoke at home or in your own private area, go for it. But when you are out in public you should not expect others to have to tolerate the stench and adverse effects of second hand smoke.

Political Correctness is another nail in the coffin of free speech

Is there really anything wrong with expecting civilized speech? That in general settings we not use slurs, derogatory language, or hurtful words? Is that really expecting too much?

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

Political correctness is just the stench left behind by the naive and disconnected ultra-liberal mindset of todays millennials that have no idea how the world actually works.

 

[suncowiam]

Smoking is a public health issue. We've banned lead in paint, asbestos in building material, and many other things that are public health issues and no one is shedding a tear over it. If you want to smoke at home or in your own private area, go for it. But when you are out in public you should not expect others to have to tolerate the stench and adverse effects of second hand smoke.

Is there really anything wrong with expecting civilized speech? That in general settings we not use slurs, derogatory language, or hurtful words? Is that really expecting too much?

I don't think that is the definition of PC.

It's more like how revolt defined and from the wiki link.

By not following PC does not mean we are allowed to use derogatory terms or slurs with harmful intent.

For example, we talked about a slur word and it's etymology denoting the deragotive notion towards Asians. I didn't take offense because I understood the full context of the situation. To be PC is not even to refer to the term because of fear of offending folks when the intention was never to offend.

The liberty allowed to discuss such things without fear of hurt feelings, IMO, improves communication. It might not improve relations but there is a difference between the two.

 

[Revoltingest]

I have a new definition for PC.....
It's the stifling feeling an open minded thinking person
experiences at a university which has "safe spaces".

 

[Shadow Wolf]

For example, we talked about a slur word and it's etymology denoting the deragotive notion towards Asians. I didn't take offense because I understood the full context of the situation. To be PC is not even to refer to the term because of fear of offending folks when the intention was never to offend.

That's different that using the word as a slur. We discussed the word in question as a bit of "cultural exchange" and how the word has a different spelling and meaning in America (though I would wager it's mostly middle-aged-to-older Americans that use it anymore). It takes a different meaning though when it is used as a way to attack certain ethnic groups. And as the Wiki article indicates, the meaning of the word has changed over the decades since its first appearance. It went from it's first usages as a term used among Marxists and Socialists, to being used as a form of satire, to an academic term and a term to attack academic pedagogy, to today's usage, which is typically from Right-winged commentators about the Liberal preference to not use offensive language. Basically, it went from a far Left term of discourse to being appropriated by the Right as a way to attack the Left.

Political correctness is just the stench left behind by the naive and disconnected ultra-liberal mindset of todays millennials that have no idea how the world actually works.

The word first came about before any millennials were even born.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Political correctness is just the stench left behind by the naive and disconnected ultra-liberal mindset of todays millennials that have no idea how the world actually works.

While I don't disagree to a larger part, I'd probably wouldn't place all millenials in the duster. A few have actually suprised me. =0)

 

[wicketkeeper]

Smoking is a public health issue. We've banned lead in paint, asbestos in building material, and many other things that are public health issues and no one is shedding a tear over it. If you want to smoke at home or in your own private area, go for it. But when you are out in public you should not expect others to have to tolerate the stench and adverse effects of second hand smoke.

Is there really anything wrong with expecting civilized speech? That in general settings we not use slurs, derogatory language, or hurtful words? Is that really expecting too much?

OK ! Health issues first - apologies for digressing.

When I am out I have to put up with cars/lorries exhaust pipe fumes.
When I am out I have to put up with women/men who douse themselves in perfumes/aftershave, and they stink !
When I am out I am, as are most of the population, being poisoned by chemtrails.

In pubs and restaurants there was a designated room for smokers, it was a solution for those who wanted to avoid people smoking. But, and there is always a but ! I am a pipe smoker and my family and friends enjoy the various aromas on offer.

Onto PC. I am in my 50's and don't need to the PC Brigade to keep me in line with regards to civilised speech. But civilised speech has many different layers, what to you is civilised speech may not be to another person. It depends on your perspective.

But, if an individual is offended that is not my problem. It is the problem of the individual who is offended. In short people need to grow up. People should be offended by poverty, wars, homelessness, starvation etc etc

We really are in danger of becoming vacant robotic drones.

Now I bet someone will be offended by what I have just written........off for a smoke......

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

The word first came about before any millennials were even born.

Hey look, I'm 40 years old. That means I watched as "PC" was given life. The millennials are the first generation to be raised in it to the point that it has become yet another thing to take for granted and feel entitled to(meaning, acting indignant if anyone else acts differently), as has become the hallmark of their(your?) generation.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

When I am out I have to put up with cars/lorries exhaust pipe fumes.

Yes, and many of us are concerned about that, and numerous engineers are working towards fixing that. Many of us do realize the issues with burning coal and fossil fuels, and not just in relation to Global Warming.

When I am out I have to put up with women/men who douse themselves in perfumes/aftershave, and they stink !

It bothers me too, but it's not putting my health at risk.

We really are in danger of becoming vacant robotic drones.

If there is any danger of becoming drones, it's not from "PC speech," but rather people becoming absorbed by the mobile devices.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Hey look, I'm 40 years old. That means I watched as "PC" was given life. The millennials are the first generation to be raised in it to the point that it has become yet another thing to take for granted and feel entitled to(meaning, acting indignant if anyone else acts differently), as has become the hallmark of their(your?) generation.

It seems the word was first used either a year before you were born, or the year you was born (depending on if you turned 40 this year or are turning 41 this year). The word is pretty much as old as you are.

 

[wicketkeeper]

Yes, and many of us are concerned about that, and numerous engineers are working towards fixing that. Many of us do realize the issues with burning coal and fossil fuels, and not just in relation to Global Warming.

Global Warming is a myth. Anything to do with Al Gore is a scam.

It bothers me too, but it's not putting my health at risk.

Some of the stronger smelling perfumes/aftershaves can make your eyes water ! I dislike being in a room where there is an overpowering smell of perfume/aftershave - but I don't winge about it ! If there is a window I open it ! If not I just grin and bare it. Its called being an adult !


If there is any danger of becoming drones, it's not from "PC speech," but rather people becoming absorbed by the mobile devices.

Agreed. But ! PC is one of the ingredients which are dumbing us down, just as the global warming scam, the smoking ban....be enraged over things which matter - wars(which are all acts of terrorism), famine and poverty to name but a few.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

be enraged over things which matter

For many of us, the damaging and hurtful speech that political correctness revolves around does matter, in our own personal lives.

Global Warming is a myth. Anything to do with Al Gore is a scam.

Not the thread for this, but Al Gore is not the founder, prophet, priest, or guru of Global Warming, and there is a mountain of evidence from a ton of organizations to verify that it is happening, as well as basic Earth science that carbon dioxide gets trapped in the atmosphere and reflects sun light that would have otherwise went back out into space back to the Earth's surface.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Political Correctness is another nail in the coffin of free speech and it is also about control, just like the no smoking ban in pubs etc. Control. I used to enjoy a chat, a pint and a cigar or pipe in my local. Obviously that is no longer a possibility.

A good analogy, though not for the reasons you suggest.

Smoke-free workplaces help prevent people from dying of cancer just to make a living. The self-centredness of suggesting that this should be a lower priority than your desire for a cigar with your pint is similar to the self-centredness that says we shouldn't have to bear responsibility for the effects our words and actions have on others... i.e. what gets called political correctness.

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

It seems the word was first used either a year before you were born, or the year you was born (depending on if you turned 40 this year or are turning 41 this year). The word is pretty much as old as you are.

While that may be true with regards to when the term was coined, "political correctness" didn't gain any real traction until the mid 90s when the touchy feely liberalism we all love to hate began to gain popularity.(the Bill Clinton administration) Before that this whole 'right' to not be offended ' thing that dominates our Western politique of today was a fringe opinion at best.

 

[Acim]

Smoking is a public health issue. We've banned lead in paint, asbestos in building material, and many other things that are public health issues and no one is shedding a tear over it. If you want to smoke at home or in your own private area, go for it. But when you are out in public you should not expect others to have to tolerate the stench and adverse effects of second hand smoke.

Is there really anything wrong with expecting civilized speech? That in general settings we not use slurs, derogatory language, or hurtful words? Is that really expecting too much?

I was looking for good example of PC and you brought one up. Smoking bans. Given how thoroughly debunked SHS (2nd hand smoke) studies have been, it is clearly now in the 'politically correct' territory.

If a private business wishes to allow smoking in their establishment, they are disallowed because of the (politically correct) ban. They may say it is because of public health, but they'd be lying and/or mistaken. The ones that do wish to allow, will a) get by with it (allowing it) thus being civilly disobedient or b) give into socio-legal pressures and obey the ban.

As I am mostly a vaper, I've done lots (and lots) of research on this. Vaping has literally no reason to be banned in public spaces, but is because of the political correctness (more like indignant righteousness). Many studies on SHV show it to be less harmful than normal room air. But because to non-vapers it 'looks like smoke/smoking' it falls under same logic for a ban. Which I routinely disobey given how ridiculously hard it is to catch a vaper vaping, but that's another story.

 

[Sees]

For the most part - anything that supports a culture of victimhood and liberalism is politically correct...other views, opinions, positions, etc. belong to politically incorrect oppressors.

A look at the mindset:

"X" votes for a black candidate and admits the candidate being black is part of the reason = Good

"Y" votes for a woman candidate and admits the candidate being a woman is part of the reason = Great

"Z" votes for a white/male candidate and admits the candidate being white/male is part of the reason = Oh hell no!

Z wouldn't even be voiced in public because...you know.