I had to explain to one of my co-workers today why he offended others. Among other recent "jokes," he asked a Muslim woman "What the hell you got under that scarf?" and a gay man if he was going to be the bride or groom at his commitment ceremony. He accused me and my boss of wanting him to be "politically correct" and act "like a robot with no sense of humor." Of course this isn't what anyone wants! It's just that some "jokes" are insulting and don't help morale at an office.
I'm just wondering, why do people who make rude and prejudiced comments so often accuse others of "political correctness" and having no sense of humor? I hear it a lot, but I guess I don't understand it. How do you get through to people who think they have the right to make those kinds of comments and act as if you're just oversensitive and humor-deprived if you take offense?
2007-06-08 11:39:09 · 11 answers · asked by GreenEyedLilo 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
He wants to pretend like it's his right to have diarrhea of the mouth anywhere he damn well pleases even when he's signed a contract stating that he will treat his coworkers with respect and dignity and to maintain a professional demeanor that reflects well on his employer.
2007-06-08 11:41:43 · answer #1 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A quick poll of my gay friends shows none of them were offended by that comment... And the Muslim comment, to me, seems not much different from asking what a Scotsman wears under his kilt.
I'm a pagan, and I once had a high school teacher say, "You must be tired a lot, what with sacrificing cats at midnight and all that..." THAT was offensive.
What's the difference? The comments you listed didn't make ignorant accusations about another person's lifestyle - they were just a lame attempt at humor. If he'd alledged that the gay guy was into beastiality, or that the muslim woman supports suicide bombers, it'd be different.
2007-06-08 11:49:55 · answer #2 · answered by futurevizions 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is a thin line between succumbing to political correctness and knowing what not to say for the sake of good manners. However, in the workplace, one absolutely needs to consider the diversity of the workers, and behave accordingly. At the workplace, we are "captive" audiences in that if we want to work, we cannot simply ignore the rude person or walk away.
Your co-worker's behavior would not be tolerated where I work. He may not have bad intentions with his comments, maybe he's just an annoying clown. However, the supervisor should see to it that he learns proper workplace behavior, and if he cannot conduct himself accordingly, his position should be terminated.
Just my opinion.
2007-06-08 11:47:34 · answer #3 · answered by Yinzer from Sixburgh 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's a difference between politically correct language and simple courtesy. Simple courtesy says that you open doors for ladies, you say excuse me and yes ma'am. It means that you don't tell off color jokes in the work place regardless of the jokes subject matter. Politically correct language was just created by people who can't handle reality. For example, apparently poor people do not live in slums. Economically challenged people live in sub-standard housing in urban areas (a nod to George Carlin for that one). Deaf people are not "hard of hearing." they are deaf. I have tinitis which makes me hard of hearing. There is a difference. Your co-worker was not being courteous or politically incorrect. He was being an a$$.
2007-06-08 11:46:04 · answer #4 · answered by steven_p_ohio 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The examples you gave are not about people being PC. The man made offensive remarks, when people complain about PC it has nothing to do with the kind of behavior in your examples. Quit trying to make it seem as if people are trying to defend asssholes. We just want society to have common sense.
2007-06-08 11:50:33 · answer #5 · answered by Emilio S 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because some people only pretend to be courteous. They say the right thing but they don't mean it or believe in it...They just say it to be seen as being correct.
2007-06-08 11:44:13 · answer #6 · answered by Afi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh, so you're saying that people have no right to make racial, sexual or ethnic jokes? You have something against free speech? Typical liberal.
You know what kills morale at the office? Hypersensitive whingers who can't stand for their wittle feeeewings to get hurt, and seek to enact draconian speech codes to punish others for expressing opinions or attitudes that differ from theirs. How's THAT for diversity?
2007-06-08 11:42:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Political correctness is another way of saying do whatever you want. No one will punish you.
2007-06-08 11:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
they are to verry different things
2007-06-08 11:41:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They should fire him. Plan and simple.
2007-06-08 11:42:28 · answer #10 · answered by Indiana Jonas 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋