Political correctness scares me .

a reply to: Greathouse

Great post OP, and definitely well stated.

My biggest problem with P.C. is that the words themselves
are deceptive, and is used enough they are a form of thought
control because people begin to believe the false connotations
in the deceptive words, for example

I see nothing wrong with calling someone retarded, if they really
are. I mean nothing offensive about it, it's just a fact.

Mentally challenged, totally misleading.

What is it they're being challenged by mentally?

That they are retarded.

I see no mallace in this, unless it's intent is to be offensive,
and this was only an example, I have no prejudice against
"mentally capable" people.

Rebel 5

Here's one example of PC. I'm in a group on facebook that has to do with crafting stuff on games. The owner of the group kicked somebody out for refusing to remove an "exclusionary symbol" from her facebook profile pic. I was confused on what such a symbol might be and went through posts to see what was going on. The "exclusionary symbol" was a pic of the Battle flag of Virginia. Sheesh.

I think people have a right to their "P.C." opinions and I think people have a right to "non-P.C." opinions. I support anyone's right to say what ever vile thing may be on their mind. On the flip-side, I support any privately held business (corporation) to sanction that person into oblivion if they violate contractual T.O.S. or offend their target base. If you have any social media accounts and you are too stupid to not post an opinion that may get you fired from a job that you depend on for money, perhaps your mortgage or car-note was not of great importance to you anyway.

a reply to: rebelv

I agree with your position. The words to me are also descriptive the problem arises when they are intended with malice.

But political correctness avdocates, always decide the intent of the word for you with no regard for your actual intentions.

originally posted by: Skid Mark
Here's one example of PC. I'm in a group on facebook that has to do with crafting stuff on games. The owner of the group kicked somebody out for refusing to remove an "exclusionary symbol" from her facebook profile pic. I was confused on what such a symbol might be and went through posts to see what was going on. The "exclusionary symbol" was a pic of the Battle flag of Virginia. Sheesh.

A month or so ago it was probably wasn't even an issue to him .

a reply to: Skid Mark

It's a growing PC issue in Canada as well:



www.cbc.ca...

[sarcasm]Yeah... that rebel flag sure is totally responsible for racism. Once it disappears entirely, all those problems will disappear with it.[/sarcasm]

a reply to: Greathouse

That's true. Then, it was just another flag. I saw another thread on here about the fleur de lis. You can see it here:
www.abovetopsecret.com...
I wonder how long it will be before there's an uproar about that one. Maybe if a psycho kills a lot of people and has pics of him with one either tattooed on his body or if one is in the background or on his shirt.

a reply to: Greathouse

I didn't see this on here but it should be.

a reply to: Skid Mark

I like this quote ........


"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."

Kierkegaard

a reply to: Greathouse

Lol that's good one.

a reply to: Greathouse

So... speaking as one who is considered PC is not related to free speech, but speaking anti_PC is?

Sounds like BS to me, either way.

I hope people continue to express their opinions as long as doing so doesn't lead to massacres.

Je Suis Charlie

originally posted by: masqua
a reply to: Greathouse

So... speaking as one who is considered PC is not related to free speech, but speaking anti_PC is?

Sounds like BS to me, either way.

I hope people continue to express their opinions as long as doing so doesn't lead to massacres.

Je Suis Charlie

And I have carried your opinion throughout this thread .

originally posted by: masqua
a reply to: Greathouse

So... speaking as one who is considered PC is not related to free speech, but speaking anti_PC is?

Sounds like BS to me, either way.

I hope people continue to express their opinions as long as doing so doesn't lead to massacres.

Je Suis Charlie

Political correctness is part and parcel part of anti-free speech. It quells speech. It quells free exchange of ideas. People walk on eggshells and don't speak their mind because of political correctness.

a reply to: NavyDoc

I thought it was a marxist plot?

Here's the thing... telling people that they can't express PC ideas because it quells free speech is in itself quelling free speech. What? The Politically Correct crowd needs to shut up?

It goes both ways.

I'm either way on this issue. I don't like some PC ideas and I like some others. I don't like people that spit where I walk, but I shouldn't say so because spitting is a form of free speech the same way that giving millions to a political party is. Free speech is another notion that people need to parse out according to the situation they're confronted with.

The government seems to be on the worse side of PC. When I was in the Navy, we were banned from using the term "flip chart" when giving lectures because the term "flip chart" may be offensive to Philippinos even though I've never met a person from the Philippines that did not understand that the term referenced the type of chart that one "flipped" over. PC is one of the lowest forms of poor intelligence and lack common sense. It is the refuge of those who cannot think.

We are afraid to use our better judgement. It's easy to rationalize why words can be offensive, so it makes the counter arguments difficult. I worry about looking like an ass when I do it, but I genuinely believe our new standard of sensitivity is unhealthy. Protecting ourselves from it is not what this country is about. Our willingness to label ideas as disgusting worries me. No offense to the people on the PC side, but it's becoming a bit scary. I don't like how it mixes with the rest of our political climate. People aren't approaching it as a nuanced problem, it's just what's on the surface and knee jerk reactions with no room for reason.

It is strange how the PC side doesn't consider it incorrect to generalize white males for example. They go along with this strange agenda without question. It's bizarre. When I say I hate the racial divides I make no similar exceptions. Equality isn't about turning the tables. I don't get the current batch of identity activists. I appreciate some of the success they've had, it benefits me, but I fear what happens to cultures that aren't open to dissent.

originally posted by: masqua
a reply to: Greathouse

So... speaking as one who is considered PC is not related to free speech, but speaking anti_PC is?

Sounds like BS to me, either way.

Depends how active you are in using the political power that comes with correctness. If correctness silences dissenting opinions it is not on the side of free speech. It's the gateway drug.

If we get together for a discussion, and after years of successfully readjusting to the use of "little people", I accidentally slip up and let the word midget out. That doesn't make me an unforgivable, disgusting, phobia having, bigot. It doesn't mean I should lose the right to own a business and support my family. Political correctness is becoming a soft excommunication for anyone unfortunate enough to not be perfect in their word choices. That's not something I've ever been good at.

originally posted by: masqua
a reply to: NavyDoc

I thought it was a marxist plot?

Here's the thing... telling people that they can't express PC ideas because it quells free speech is in itself quelling free speech. What? The Politically Correct crowd needs to shut up?

It goes both ways.

At the end of the day that is the crux of my issue with the OP.

Free speech encompasses political correctness...

And the definition of political correctness is ever changing...

The OPs issue does not appear to be with political correctness itself, but only in it's most recent iteration that does not affirm their views.

As strangely evidenced here when asked if the Dixie Chicks, who received death threats, had their concerts cancelled throughout the south and their music pulled from radio stations and store shelves after publicly disagreeing with the Iraq war...

Was that political correctness reeling it's evil head?

originally posted by: Greathouse

No I don't believe so. That was a choice by the musical promoters about their own business practices.

An indictment of political correctness...only when it disagrees with a given world view..is itself political correctness in it's worst form. A false and convenient outrage IMO.

What to do if the whims of "political correctness" someday disagree with you?

Well...Just keep being you....Maybe the Dixie Chicks can offer some advice in their Lyrics responding to the "political correctness" conservatives sent their way..

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell, and I don't have time
To go 'round and 'round and 'round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

I know you said
Can't you just get over it?
It turned my whole world around
And I kinda like it

I made my bed, and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets, and I don't mind saying
It's a sad, sad story
When a mother will teach her daughter
That she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better
Shut up and sing
Or my life will be over?

a reply to: ProfessorChaos

You missed one from that article. Apparently the word "Citizen" is also offensive.

The biggest PC target is truth - in all of its forms.

a reply to: Indigo5

I gave an opinion on the circumstances involving one incident. In no way did it portray my circumstances on the subject though. It's that whole implying intent thing again.

I don't like political correctness because while it promotes one side of free speech at stifles another /