Poll: Do you think people are too politically correct nowadays?
In the UK there are influential people with small wisdom and big voices who self-righteously say what the rest of us should believe or think! With that twin scourge called 'human rights' they are both eroding the UK special national characteristics of free speech and free expression of matters of conscience. To seek to keep Britain British, with all that this used to entail, is some how classed as bigotry or even phobia against other cultures by these odious self-righteous people! To prefer what you have been used to is a natural human tendency which you have mentioned, but it is not automatically associated with hate. The more that natural preference is attacked and falsely seen as prejudice, by a certain political group - the more resentment does it spawn - and then you have created hatred. These social engineering cowboys no doubt have had little experience of life. When you are young you quickly assume values and beliefs based on what seems to relate to fairness and a healthy mental attitude. But when you have been on this planet a fair while, you realize that the finer noble principles in action often do not work for the greater good. I am thinking about politics and Law. For example, a too-kind developed welfare state, as in the UK has spawned and grown bad characteristics in too many people, from proud independence and the morale to cheerfully accept a very limited life-style we now have a culture of dependency that sees the government as having an obligation to cosset and pander, with the money they get from us hard-working, saving, thrifty people - not fair - definitely not fair!.
Why do we use politically correct terms? Are we that sissy these days?
Little known secret.... PC is a social device created to weed out bigots, NIMBY's / Luddites, extremists and racists as these people typically will openly deny any of these labels but will more than likely take a firm dislike to the PC movement and its forward progress, thus showing their true colours. And it is surprisingly effective. The best part is that PC is passive, you have to be actively against it to signal who you really are inside.
Being “politically correct” is really a social construct. Not governmental. It means to speak and act in ways that are unlikely to generate offense in your neighbors.What happened is: nothing. People have always felt a need to conform to social norms. The change is that the list of behaviors and words that cause offense have changed.In the 1960’s the following statement was politically incorrect. It would cause offense to your neighbors:that black actress is so beautifulMy school teacher is gayI want to fill out my driver's license application in SpanishBlack people in this county should all register to voteThose were not acceptable statements to make. People would get OFFENDED. You are out of the party, Bub, and don't come back.Now, those statements are OK and other statements are bad. The LEVEL of political correctness has not changed one bit, the topics considered taboo have.Whenever I hear folks complain about political correctness, it's clear to me that the social progress we have achieved in the past 50 years is uncomfortable for them.Of course, the easiest answer is to collect up all your old fashioned neighbors and move to a place where they believe like you do.I doubt the society of the whole country is ever going back to Mad Men days.
If you look at our pop culture in general, and our humor in particular, you’ll notice that we are not that politically correct as a society in the United States. And that’s largely OK. We find humor in the inappropriate, and amusement in the follies and foibles of others. Fortunately for you, nobody can police what you find funny, or what you sincerely believe to be true.BUT, you should go out of your way to be kind to others. Be compassionate and try to understand their perspectives. Don’t make unwanted jokes at their expense. Don’t make unwarranted assumptions based on stereotypes. Don’t make harassing comments or roughly grab people or pat them on the head degradingly or whistle suggestively. Don’t refuse the modern social norms for polite behavior based only on your own stubborn desire to keep it real or say it like it is.Nobody can make you follow our unbearable, politically correct standards for social interaction. But if you want people to respect you, you might want to first show them the kind of respect you want in return.
Seemed to start with people claiming they were victims. By claiming victim status they could deflect criticism or accuse their opponents of being “bad”.I was born in 1960 in NY. Jews were the first I ever heard doing what is now called “playing the holocaust card” to defend against critics. The civil rights movement was going strong and using the N word and accusations (many times legitimate) of racism became popular.Seems that during the Bush 2 presidency, PC became a small but vocal movement. Under Obama it just exploded with nearly everyone claiming to be a victim such as Musims, All versions of transsexuals, nearly every ethnicity, women, animal advocates etc…Some of these things are OK when they make people a little more tolerant to alternative things. Problem is: God help you if you disagree with a member of a victim group. They can and will attempt to destroy you, your career and your family.The biggest whiners IMO are liberal blacks. Conservative blacks are high achievers and realize that knowledge and effort can solve ALL of the black community’s problems. Thomas Sowell has written about this extensively but is mostly ignored by the left.
Why Does Everything Have To Be Politically Correct These Days?
The word "retarded" is hurtful, plain and simple. It is on a WHOLE different scale than the other examples you gave... And Tropical Thunder wasn't boycotted "just" because it used the word, but because he embarrassingly depicted a mentally handicapped character, and made jokes about it ... "oh that won't work, you can't go all out retard.. you gotta back it up some" or something to that affect. People who throw that word around has never had a family member, a sister in my case, cry because people called her a retard and she didn't know what that was... I care nothing about people being un-PC... but when people who have handicaps who have been teased with this word, hear others throwing it around.. you can't pretend they don't remember what it means.. and that when people joking call another person a "retard" that they don't know what it implies I don't care if you say "gay" or "Indian" style.. but I absolutely hate the word "retard" ... it's completely different.
Why does everything have to be politically correct these days?
HOW TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT.. Don't call that schlub "a fatty," for it's simply not allowed; He's now "physic'lly expansive" or "nutrition'lly endowed;" That clod repeating Std.2 He's not a knucklehead; "Scholastic'lly persistent" is the phrase to use instead; Don't talk of "dwarfs" or "midgets" both are terms you should revise; Today they're known as "persons of a nonexcessive size;" You'll find you're not offending any group or race or sect As long as what you're saying is Politic'lly Correct. The U.S. has no "indians". In case you haven't heard, "Indigenous Americans" is now the term preferred; Don't call that drifter "homeless", that's the no-no of the year; He's "a worker in transition" or "an urban pioneer." Don't call that guy in women's clothes a weirdo or a freak; He's "a fashion nonconformist with a life-style that's unique." No lack of sensitivity will anyone detect. As long as ev'ry comment is Politic'lly Correct. To psychopathic killers nicer labels we're now giving; They're "gentlemen who specialize in termenating living;" As for all those scuzzy pushers hooking kids throughout the land, They're now "Inner-city merchants with a product in demand;" So make certain that you're careful with the words that you select And we guarantee you'll always be Politic'lly Correct.