Political correctness scares me .

originally posted by: mahatche
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.

Here, here.

And there are many people who would call you a disgusting bigot and would want you to lose your livelihood over that slip. That, sir, is the essence of political correctness.

originally posted by: Indigo5

originally posted by: dismanrc

originally posted by: reldra
a reply to: Greathouse

I can say offensive things if I want to, like calling a person illegal instead of undocumented. I don't feel an entire person can be illegal I can make fun of handicapped people and call them retards, but I don't. At one time that would have been considered 'OK'.

How is calling an person illegal offensive?

Cuz people are not "illegal"?...

In the USA...whether it be a speeding ticket or grand-theft-auto, we don't refer to those people as "Illegal"..

From a semantics perspective it is a pointedly de-humanizing label that some have reserved for Latino's.

A person can not "be" illegal...they can have broken the law, but "they" are not "illegal".

Every bigotry needs it's veiled verbiage...

:

Almost a direct quote from CNN. UMM


It not reserved for Latino's. It does NOT make a difference where they come from.

Liberals always bash this idea because its against the "Latino's" when in reality it is against ALL illegal aliens, no matter where they come from or in.

It just so happens that its a lot harder to swim/boat across the Atlantic and Pacific ocean, or hike thought the tundra of Canada, then it is to come from Mexico.

AS the OP implied this is why PC words are so scary. they try to lessen the impact of a issue that liberals want to make "less" scary so as to have the people pay less attention to them. (And; as I said in another post; Conservatives because they don't wish to be attacked.)


illegal aliens become "undocumented workers" --- less scary right
Global Warming ---- Climate Change
Liberal, Socialist, Communist ---- Progressive
Illegal Voter ---- Undocumented Citizen
Wanted Criminal ---- Person of Interest
Drunk, Druggie ---- Societal Victim
Learning disabled ---- Acceptional child
psychotic ---- Socially misaligned
patient, inmate, prisoner ---- Guest
serial killers ---- Persons with difficult-to-meet needs



The list goes on and on.

originally posted by: dismanrc

originally posted by: Indigo5

originally posted by: dismanrc

originally posted by: reldra
a reply to: Greathouse

I can say offensive things if I want to, like calling a person illegal instead of undocumented. I don't feel an entire person can be illegal I can make fun of handicapped people and call them retards, but I don't. At one time that would have been considered 'OK'.

How is calling an person illegal offensive?

Cuz people are not "illegal"?...

In the USA...whether it be a speeding ticket or grand-theft-auto, we don't refer to those people as "Illegal"..

From a semantics perspective it is a pointedly de-humanizing label that some have reserved for Latino's.

A person can not "be" illegal...they can have broken the law, but "they" are not "illegal".

Every bigotry needs it's veiled verbiage...

:

Almost a direct quote from CNN. UMM

Uhh...Is the idea that if it is reported on CNN then it is false? This seems a particularly strange retort? I do not check CNN and adjust my view of reality to disbelieve anything reported there.

originally posted by: dismanrc

It not reserved for Latino's. It does NOT make a difference where they come from.

That is why I explained that "a person" can not "be illegal"...they can have immigrated illegally, they can have broken the law...they can get a speeding ticket or be convicted of murder, but that does not make them an "illegal" person.

originally posted by: dismanrc
Liberals always bash this idea ...

Conservatives bash the idea that people are "illegal". Mostly Latino Conservatives, but also compassionate Christians and other folks that helped Pres. GWB get elected...but are missing in action amongst the conservative base in recent years cuz of folks like yourself.

originally posted by: dismanrc

AS the OP implied this is why PC words are so scary. they try to lessen the impact of a issue that liberals want to make "less" scary so as to have the people pay less attention to them. (And; as I said in another post; Conservatives because they don't wish to be attacked.)

Living in the world means understanding that different people feel differently about labels...more so when it is they, themselves being labeled.

Further...it is a factor of context and how well we know the speaker.

Lot's of people, myself included, have parents or grand-parents that due to no other reason than time itself, speak in politically incorrect ways. The reason we afford them grace is because we know them well, their sentiments and intent.


For people in politics, each speech, rally or public statement calculated to pander for purpose...they deserve less grace in that context.

originally posted by: dismanrc
illegal aliens become "undocumented workers" --- less scary right
Global Warming ---- Climate Change
Liberal, Socialist, Communist ---- Progressive
Illegal Voter ---- Undocumented Citizen
Wanted Criminal ---- Person of Interest
Drunk, Druggie ---- Societal Victim
Learning disabled ---- Acceptional child
psychotic ---- Socially misaligned
patient, inmate, prisoner ---- Guest
serial killers ---- Persons with difficult-to-meet needs

Accuracy matters and words matter.

"illegal Aliens" sounds like an invading army from mars. But still it is better than what you were defending..."illegals" as if their very existence was illegal.

originally posted by: dismanrc
How is calling an person illegal offensive? THEY ARE illegal and are all criminals.

"Undocumented workers"...makes it sound like someone forgot to include their middle name on an employment application.

"Illegal Immigrant" works for me...vs. "Illegals".

As for the rest of your rant?...

Global Warming ---- Climate Change
* Climate change is accurate...melting Ice caps and rising sea levels shake up the climate to extremes, not just warming.

Liberal, Socialist, Communist ---- Progressive
* Not everyone who votes democrat is a communist? Can't help you there..

Illegal Voter ---- Undocumented Citizen
* What "Illegal Voters"?? This is a boogie-man for conservative rhetoric, not reality.

Wanted Criminal ---- Person of Interest
* Until convicted that's what they are? ranging from witness to people they think did it? Calling them a criminal before certainty means they might not turn themselves in..

Drunk, Druggie ---- Societal Victim
* Never heard that before? I actually work with drunks and addicts as a volunteer...They are honest about their condition and I have never heard anyone even infer "societal victim"...I have to imagine that was a ignorant belch from your imagination in hopes of sounding clever?

Learning disabled ---- Acceptional child
* I know kids with learning disabilities. Many of whom can likely spell the word "exceptional" and know the difference between Accept and except.

The federal government, which has 'Tomahawk' missiles, 'Apache', 'Blackhawk', 'Kiowa', and 'Lakota' helicopters, and used the code name 'Geronimo' in the attack that killed Osama Bin Laden, officially objects to the name of the Washington Redskins....