Politically correct madness!

[ShadowsFall]

Here's a question for everyone. Whats your opinion on political correctness? Are we now taking it all too far, so much so that often people are afraid to express whats truely on their mind since they fear how people may judge them. Or do you think it should be taken further to the point where people can no longer express their opinions on just about anything so's not to offend a group or person.

I personally think were taken it all way to far, but what do you think?

[temasongu]

I'll give a dictionary-style definition here. Political correctness essentially damages and weakens the effectiveness of any writing, publication, speech, and basically any opinion expressed through a medium with a substantial audience. (Yes, those are my own words.) If someone ever requests your opinion about something, whether or not it is politically correct, tell it just like it is. If that person (or people, depending) doesn't like it, he/she/they should not have asked. End of story.

[b3nnic3]

Political correctness is censorship. As long as it is not hateful I don't understand what the problem with speaking your mind is.

[witeshark]

Political correctness has gone way too far many times. Any of you ever see that old show by Bill Marr (spelling?) PI (Politically Incorrect)?

[Gunter45]

It's ridiculous to assume that simply coming up with new labels will curb discrimination. To call someone retarded used to be politicall correct, now it's "mentally challenged/handicapped" and I've already heard that being used as a put down. Honestly, I don't care what other people call things. I'll use to words I always use and skip having to learn a whole new vocabulary to describe things that have already be described.

[The-Last-Cynic]

I hate political correctness, it makes everything boring, and it kills me that so many political correctness advocates are white women. Which gives it such a condescending tone. Another way of stripping free speech.

P.S. Bill Mahor

[Camarohusky]

At 8/11/04 11:36 PM, KirbyMan wrote: P.S. Bill Mahor

Maher, get it right.
Meh, I'm kinda half and half on this issue. Yeah you should watch what you say, but some of it has gone a bit far.

[The-Last-Cynic]

At 8/12/04 01:00 AM, Camarohusky wrote:

At 8/11/04 11:36 PM, KirbyMan wrote: P.S. Bill Mahor

Maher, get it right.

Oh, you think you're so damn smart, kidding, thank you.

[Viperman5686]

Politically correct = bullshit. People don't like it when you call something gay, or retarded, because they think that they are above other people who use these words. As if saying "retard" somehow lowers your overall worth; its a load of crap.

[TheWakingDeath]

i hate political correctness too. i love it when people call me a lousy guinea dyke. i belive that that's totally professional and not allowing them to say it or publish it would be infringing upon their freedom of expression. using words like gook, chink n**** and bitch accurately express the persons true sentiments towards vietnemese, chinese, blacks and women. public figures who use these terms should not be censured or censored for their use

[RedSkunk]

Don't forget about "girlymen" izuamoto.

[ShadowsFall]

All very valid points. The thing that angers me the most about it is that many people are shamed into keeping quiet about their natural feelings- even if these ideas have a strong basis of truth.

All in all I think it may be one of the most restrictive aspects of poltics these day- politicians and public figures have to be so damn careful what they say. Some people are just too scared to express their opinions so they just keep their mouths shut! And I say that deffinately cant be productive. If people have a problem with something and they cant express it, then that problem can never be sorted or a comprimise can never be met- since no one knows its angering a person or a group of people.

Heres what I say- cant we just tone this politcal correct madness down a bit so everyone can have their say?

[bumcheekcity]

I dont think we're going too far at all. If people do feel that it is necessary for them to drop the word 'n!gger' a few times into casual conversation about black people, then they can have a nice big cup of shut the fuck up.

Just dont say offensive words like paki, n!gger, gook, etc. Just dont say them. It isn't hard. Nobody gets offended, and everybodys happy. Except the racists.

[stupidmouse]

At 8/11/04 11:36 PM, KirbyMan wrote: I hate political correctness, it makes everything boring, and it kills me that so many political correctness advocates are white women. Which gives it such a condescending tone. Another way of stripping free speech.

P.S. Bill Mahor

why the hell can a white woman not advocate political correctness? you are a bloody idiot.

[tre-x]

Yeah, here's acceptable political correctness:
He is black. I am white.
UNacceptable unPC:
He is a N---- and I am A cracker Jack.
This is when the Pc-ness gets outta control.
He is an African American, and I am a european-American.

WHy won't I get called a European American!?! I want fair treatment too!

[bumcheekcity]

At 8/12/04 10:14 AM, dark_trex wrote: Yeah, here's acceptable political correctness:
He is black. I am white.
UNacceptable unPC:
He is a N---- and I am A cracker Jack.
This is when the Pc-ness gets outta control.
He is an African American, and I am a european-American.

Except you arent. He might be:

African-American
Black
African

You might be:

American
White
European-American

[Angry-Hatter]

I'm really getting tired of all this hate out there in the world. It wouldn't matter what you called the other if you didn't say it in a hatefull way.

But this isn't the human nature, is it? We lie, steal, murder and for what? No reason, only hate. Humans are hatefull creatures by nature. The exeptions are rare, but they don't survive very long, because the haters especially hate the one that doesn't hate.

[TheWakingDeath]

At 8/12/04 10:35 AM, bumcheekcity wrote:
Except you arent. He might be:

African-American
Black
African

yeah, but what if he's black, but his family is from jamaica? do you still call him an african american? till you realize he's not african at all? how confusing.
same with someone who's white but is from south africa. do you call him a european american? he's not, he's AFRICAN american...

and skvnk, how could i forget "girly men?"

[mrpopenfresh]

Being politically correct is a bit like having a weak and inexperienced immune system. After being spared from the bigotry for so long, when you finally hear it, it hurts 10 times more. Basically, its turning us into pussies.

[bumcheekcity]

At 8/12/04 12:20 PM, Izuamoto wrote: yeah, but what if he's black, but his family is from jamaica? do you still call him an african american? till you realize he's not african at all? how confusing.
same with someone who's white but is from south africa. do you call him a european american? he's not, he's AFRICAN american...

Then stay well clear. Maybe use the word 'Black' if you want to describe his ethnicity. Maybe Jamacian.

I tell you what, why not apply some common sense. As long as you dont MEAN to offend anyone, the majority of the time, they wont take offence.

[RedSkunk]

Izumoto has illustrated political correctness which is fairly acceptable. Funk, and others, have illustrated extremes. Like all things, there is a line to be drawn. Where that line is drawn, is that question. Simplifying the issue to "good" or "bad" is lame.

[mrpopenfresh]

I hate it when people try to be all PC and don't mention "black" when they describe someone. Don't know about you, but when there's one black guy among a douzain white guys, the fact that you mentgion his skin colour narrows down the possibilities by quite a bit.

[TheWakingDeath]

At 8/12/04 12:59 PM, mrpopenfresh wrote: I hate it when people try to be all PC and don't mention "black" when they describe someone. Don't know about you, but when there's one black guy among a douzain white guys, the fact that you mentgion his skin colour narrows down the possibilities by quite a bit.

that's pretty acceptable, i think. no one gets offended when you say "the white guy" when there's one white guy in a group of a dozen black guys. and really, i don't think most sane people have a problem with this.
on the everyday scale PC isn't terribly out of control like you people make it out to be. a few extremists take the PC thing a little too far, but now, thanks to the conservatives, being at all courteous or tactful in describing peoples differences has become stigmatized as "PC."
in fact, it's really not the words you use, it's how you use them, and i'm sure everyone has heard this, though i'm not sure you may have fully considered the idea. the context and tone in which the word is used largely affects someones reaction to it. someone gets pissed at a fox news reporter for sing the word black? well, how did it sound coming out of his mouth? he probably could make it just as offensive using the term "african american."

[The-Last-Cynic]

At 8/12/04 09:51 AM, stupidmouse wrote: why the hell can a white woman not advocate political correctness? you are a bloody idiot.

Because it's too damn ironic! And it's usually the most humorless annoying people too.

[Proteas]

At 8/12/04 10:35 AM, bumcheekcity wrote:

At 8/12/04 10:14 AM, dark_trex wrote: Yeah, here's acceptable political correctness:
He is black. I am white.
UNacceptable unPC:
He is a N---- and I am A cracker Jack.
This is when the Pc-ness gets outta control.
He is an African American, and I am a european-American.

Except you arent. He might be:

African-American
Black
African

You might be:

American
White
European-American

I hate these hyphenated terms to describe someone's ethnicity, absolutely hate them. I guess I'm old fashioned that way, but honestly, what's wrong with using simple terms to describe someone? White, Black, Mulatto, Latino, Oriental... no, we have to be overly sensitive about what word we use to describe a person's skin color and physical features.

And all because we don't wish to offend or verbally injure somebody. Where does it stop? When will it stop? More importantly, who will stop it?

[BAWLS]

At 8/12/04 07:16 PM, Proteas wrote: And all because we don't wish to offend or verbally injure somebody. Where does it stop? When will it stop? More importantly, who will stop it?

This looks like a job for...

[ShadowsFall]

At 8/12/04 07:16 PM, Proteas wrote: And all because we don't wish to offend or verbally injure somebody. Where does it stop? When will it stop? More importantly, who will stop it?

People like us will stop it. That is if you feel strongly enough about it to bring on change.

[Spookshow]

The double standards also need to stop. I hate when certain groups decry someone like me spouting off a racial slur (which I don't). Yet, when a minority yells out CRACKER! It's overlooked. I have no problem with race just a double standard for them.

[Viperman5686]

At 8/12/04 07:28 PM, Spookshow wrote: The double standards also need to stop. I hate when certain groups decry someone like me spouting off a racial slur (which I don't). Yet, when a minority yells out CRACKER! It's overlooked. I have no problem with race just a double standard for them.

I agree with this totally. A lot (not all) girls want to have equal wages, but then they want to be able to hit a guy and have nothing bad happen. If a guy hits a girl, he goes to jail.

[Gladius1000]

So true.