Isn't 'Political Correctness' (oh how I dislike this phrase) just about being nice to each other?

Question

Don't call people 'fat'. Equal opportunites for disabled people etc. What is wrong with being nice? Why are people so scared of being PC. It is not a bad thing... Obviously I know why people are over-reacting, it's because some people are taking the p'ee and saying we're not allowed to celebrate christmas etc (which is definitely rubbish)!

futureteacher061: 'rewording history to make it not sound mean' = being nice yes thanks!

coffeeshopnat: You got it.

triteamdan: Man! You have given me the best answer so far. Yes it used to be called ''manners'' and ''etiquette'', thank you. People are too quick to be rude and obnoxious these days.

Answer 1

Hi there IIIuminattiness, Where are the days gone when most of us had respect for each others feelings? I was always brought up to believe that manners cost nothing.
It would seem that, in today's society all decency and respect has virtually gone. I also hate the term 'political correctness.' I believe that our 'nanny state' has socially constructed P.C. in an attempt to enforce us to have manners. However, alot of people abuse political correctness for their own means. It is sad that in contemporary society that the attitude now is anything goes, and in my book that leads to everything going.

Answer 2

Surely being nice to each other is also to be open and honest with each other, to tell people how it is rather than dress it up. How is effectively lieing (using the current methods) actually in the long-term being nice ? Call a spade a spade, ensure the wrong-doers are punished not molly-coddled just in case the police cause offence etc.

To me being nice, having equal opportunities, using etiquette, manners etc. is in fact just a genial method, a common-sense method if you like. Political correct methods are way out on a limb of their own and in no way use common sense to balance.

Sadly many have used the PC debate to accentuate the divide between various groups and this is why many hate even the thought of tip-toeing around with PC so lean to the complete opposite side, natural human reaction. What seems to be missing in the modern world is simply common sense.

Answer 3

the only people who say political correctness is purely good manners are the politicians who're attempting to cajole us to stick to it. those human beings do exactly not % to offend all and sundry, even although a number of the flaws we are banned from asserting have by no skill actually indignant all and sundry. I mean, 'blackboard' has by no skill indignant all and sundry, and if that's banned, how comes we are allowed to declare 'white board'? curiously some human beings have been brainwashed into being so fearful of offending people who they % some excuse, and manners is obviously the best they could arise with - purely shows how pointles laptop is unquestionably...

Answer 4

No, it is inventing Rights for minorities on the basis that you care more than most, so that you can use these rights's to control the majority population. It is basically about bullying and nannying, but done under the guise of caring. You will never find people who get involved in the politics of caring, working at the sharp end, eg. Care Homes. It is at the sharp end where you generally find the genuine people that actually care. Good manners is about being nice. Health and Safety is that other well known power base for the control freaks.

Also, you can't force people to be nice, it has to come from the heart. PC isn't about being nice, it is about control, and avoiding the truth in a rather patronising way. People who push this philosophy, think too much, and feel too little. Very dry and academic.

Answer 5

I believe that political correctness is similar to when police officers in the US south ignored drugs in black areas in order to destabilise these areas.

PC is designed to annoy the majority about minor petty matters such as banning Christmas celebrations because this may upset muslims.
It makes us hate what is happening and blame the minority that seems to be destroying our culture.
It is a great way to make people hate minorities and is being used with dramatic success.

Answer 6

Political correctness is used to convey a message to REASONABLE people who know manners.

However, there are unreasonable people out there. That's why cops and judges must not and should not tiptoe around their feelings or they may become repeat offenders. Some people don't have a clue that they are self-absorbed and delusional. Being blunt is the only way to help them snap out of it.

But you have to be careful when you are blunt. Some people don't snap out of it. INSTEAD, THEY SIMPLY SNAP and go on a rampage. You have to leave it to the professionals or be a good judge of character before trying the drill sergeant way. I shudder to imagine how soft the military would become if POLITICAL CORRECTNESS creeps into the leadership.

Answer 7

Being courteous is one thing, being "politically correct" is a bogus way of trying to say nasty things in a nice way. When I hear people using "politically correct" language I question their sincerity.

The way people are making up words, twisting phrases, and misusing still more words makes me wonder if even the speaker knows what they are saying. Much of the time they sound like idiots or liars.

Answer 8

No - PC is not nice. Political Correctness deals in euphemisms. "Euphemisms are the substitution of mild, indirect, or vague expressions for ones thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt." (dictionary.com)

The problem with euphemisms and PC is that it is dishonesty dressed up as kindness.

Here's a real world example. The phrase "retarded" used to be used for those kids who had to ride the short bus to school (you know what I mean). It was not a harsh word it simply meant that their developement had been delayed - hence the use of "retard" which means delayed.

Kids being cruel used to call people "retarded" as an insult. Once the word "retarded" took on this negative meaning, the PC crowd attempted to eliminate it. Now they began calling these kids "developmentally challenged."

Of course one kid can insult another just as effectively by calling him/her "developmentally challenged."

Bottom line - PC distorts language and meaning by making it vague without actually changing what people think.

Anything that makes language less clear, while allowing people to disguise their true thoughts (dishonesty) is NOT a good thing. I would rather people be direct and think what they will. Honesty is better than the sophistry that political correctness represents.

Answer 9

Well instead of saying someone is fat you could be politically correct and say overweight...Still most average americans would just say someone is fat...Its a simple fact people dont always like to be nice...

Answer 10

American Heritage Dictionary: Politically Correct! ! Adjective. OF, relating to, or supporting broad social and educational change, especially to historical injustices such as; race class, gender, and sexual orientation! Political correctness!

Now, where does fat, ugly, retarded, or liberal come into this definition?
And if you want to celebrate Christmas, go right ahead, and if you don't want to, that's fine,too!