i am seriously interested in this. i hold a BA, MA, and another MA in philosophy and the arts. I aint daft. I am fed up of semantic substitutions for politically incorrect terms of the description of various sorts of people and thing. there have been many good answers on this subject within this website. heed them ye people! even paint in a can retards...
2006-10-13 09:15:51 · 7 answers · asked by david j 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Political correctness is obviously an obstacle to expression. Anything that prevents you from expressing anything in any way you like is an obstacle! But a barrier? I don't think so. Even if you have to use a hundred words instead of one, it's not a barrier... just a really BIG obstacle!
So the real question is whether it is worth putting that obstacle in the way. And here I'll have to disagree with some people a bit. The idea of political correctness is to be non-offensive, and perhaps even further to be uplifting in speech instead of oppressive. I have trouble finding this idea to be a bad one. What would be wrong with trying not to offend someone? Or even trying not to offend ANYONE? I'll agree that it's pretty much impossible to be completely non-offensive (some people will be offended by your attempt to be non-offensive, after all), but what is intrinsically wrong with the attempt?
The only real problem with political correctness is when it extends beyond the voluntary. When other forms of communication are not permitted and only political-correct-speak is allowed, then that is just the crudest form of censorship and thought control possible. Nothing good can be said of this kind of thing... but it is not political-correctness that is the odious part - it would be just as reprehensible no matter what single form of discourse was the forced one.
When allowed to exist side by side with other terms, political correctness is just a new mode, to be used when it is a good tool and passed over when it is not. Having more tools is a good thing. Having less is bad, as when political-correctness is used to REPLACE other terms completely. Hate those who would try to control you, not the tools they use to do it. A tool is not evil, only people are.
2006-10-13 09:40:19 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has gone beyond crazy these days. It's almost like people are looking for a reason to be offended. Intent doesn't seem to matter anymore. There was an interesting article about PC correctness in the UK today. A student was put in a group with 3 people who spoke one language and this one another. One could translate and then the teacher told them to "discuss" it. The 3 who spoke the same language discussed it but this student couldn't because they didn't speak their language. The student asked to be placed in another group because they couldn't understand what they were saying and the teacher called the student a racist. The police were called and the student was jailed for 3 hours. The 3 who spoke the different language were immigrants. Now I'm one that doesn't beleive it's my job to learn every language on earth to proove I'm not racist when it's them that came to my country. If I say I don't like someone of my race..I'm allowed to do that.....but if I say I don't like a person of another race I'm racist when race isn't even in the equation. Maybe they are just a jerk. They aren't a jerk because of their race but because of their personality.
I think they are confusing having their feelings hurt or not wanting to face facts and jump at any excuse available and being PC is a wide open topic. You can't disagree anymore without being labeled something. You can't make a wrong choice in words without being crucified. You can't even joke anymore. You can't express confusion or anger or any negative emotion in writing or someone might read it and accuse you of being a terrorist. It's gotten frightning and taken to bizarre extreems.
2006-10-13 09:56:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The idea of political correctness is mostly imagined by people who don't like being told that they are rude or daft. Say what you want and just deal with the consequences. The only barrier is in your own head.
2006-10-13 09:57:27 · answer #3 · answered by Sketch 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a barrier to expression. A barrier placed there by politicians who do not want to be responsible for actually making a decision on anything. When they can remain sitting on the fence and allow others to be blamed for seemingly unpopular ideas.Especially for things that they are afraid to say themselves, because they do not want to be accused of `offending` people.
2006-10-13 11:58:21 · answer #4 · answered by Social Science Lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think politics are not correct, and political correctness is a way of keeping people ignorant and dumbed down.
There's nothing wrong with good manners, but all this stupidity about political correctness is just a cover fror lies.
2006-10-15 13:11:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only idiots get offended. The drama they create by getting offended allows them to continue being idiots, rather than engage in constructive solutions.
I would be ashamed to say "That offends me", because I would be admitting that I have allowed myself to be sidetracked by my ego.
We are all in the same boat, people. Drop the hanky and grab an oar.
2006-10-13 10:01:16 · answer #6 · answered by Jim P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2006-10-13 09:58:12 · answer #7 · answered by Cary Grant 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋