What are your views?

Political correctness is an idiotic notion. It's essentially, the ultimate result of the notion that nobody should ever be offended by anything... the complete dissolution of any sort of argumentative or expressive ability in the language.

Oh wait, there's also no real movement towards political correctness anywhere, except for isolated expressions of the traditional political instinct of covering one's own arse. "Politically correct" is a term made-up as a straw man to certain expressions and means of discourse, so arguing about it is essentially irrelevant; some people try not to be offensive because they're feckless morons, and people on both sides of the political fence denounce them as "the enemy" or (As American conservatives are so keen on doing) make themselves look better by claiming not to be "PC". The whole argument is a diversion.

my friend Larry is 3'2", but if you call him a 'little person' instead of a 'midget', he will headbutt you in the crotch

If you're an asshole, I don't care what language you use, I won't like you, and won't really care what you say. If you're not an asshole, speak plainly and don't make me try to decipher wtf you actually mean.

It is the ridiculous extreme of a viable idea.

Of course, it is important to phrase things in a manner which will not offend. But that has to be done reasonably.

PC may have started out as a good idea but it's been taken to ridiculous lengths. I agree with Sylphas, just speak plainly so I can understand you and I'll make up my mind about you from there.

People shouldn't deliberately say things which are blatantly offensive to others. That's a given. It's when people are offended too damn easily that political correctness becomes stupid.

Very true. People can be utter idiots when it comes to being offended. If a person obviously didn't mean it offensively, why jump them about it? And if you can't tell, you either need to learn better social skills, or they do. PC won't help either end of that.

Mmm I believe in a middle ground and hope that people can moderate themselves. There's no need to use offensive language when you know someone will be bothered by it.

Saying that, you should come hang out at my house and hear the crap we speak about...so very many groups would like to lynch us if they heard what we said and thought we were serious .

Personally, I'd like to see the abortion protesters my bus drives by on every Friday moderate themselves a bit better.

Trying not to offend people is also a problem when some people are offended by reality. Fanatics of all stripes tend to be "offended" when it's pointed out that objective evidence forces us to believe they're either ignorant or loony.

Pragmatism FTW!

Oh, and

Being PC all comes down to a time and place for me. There's certain things you simply don't say or do around certain people or in certain situations. It's not so much about being politically correct as it is respect.


e.g., I wouldn't make jokes about a baby in a plastic bag around a mother with a newborn baby.

Speak for yourself.

The PC i hate is when people make a big fuss over saying Merry Christmas. They're trying to censor religion completely, which violates our right to freedom of religion as much or more as saying merry christmas does theirs.

So if it's "as much" then surely there's no problem, since you obviously don't mind saying it to begin with.

Even more idiotic is the backlash against big-box stores in the US saying "Happy Holidays" instead, so as to not alienate their non-Christian employees and clientele.

Honestly, I hate people who flip out over small things, like using the term God in an anthem (ie: taking the pledge of allegiance out of schools because it says "under God"). I try my best not to offend people, but if they're easily offended at something silly that's really their problem.

It's called church-state separation, dammit. And even I know the "Under god" bit was added by McCarthists in the 50's to contrast "Christian Capitalists" against "Godless Communists". The very reason it's there is a slight against non-theists.

the pledge of allegiance should not have Under God to begin with

and PC should rot in hell



PORCH MONKEY 4 LIFE