To those opposed to political correctness - do you think it is ok to offend people?

Question

I don't understand this big opposition to being PC. I'm not even sure what constitutes being PC.

If someone says something offensive, am I supposed to just smile and say "Yes, and your eyes go so well with your hair" or something vapid like that???

Answer 1

It's never ok to offend people.

But some people take offense at pretty harmless stuff.

That's what bugs some people about political correctness: it goes too far sometimes.

Once a hispanic guy was giving me sh*t about saying that my "husbear" is Mexican. He was all "It's HISPANIC!! MEXICAN is insulting!"

I said "Huh? He was born in Mexico, so he's Mexican! Please explain how that's insulting?"

He couldn't of course, but that just shows how political correctness is a good idea gone haywire.

Answer 2

Honestly how many people define PC is going to far. PC, the way I see it, is being used to desensitize everything so all words used to describe most anything and everything will not offend anyone in anyway shape or form. IE dwarfs/midgets are referred to as vertically challenged.

I wont be PC because what is considered PC doesnt match my thought process. Example I use the word blacks when referring to that particular cultures ethnicity. I wont use African American EVER. Why? Because most blacks were born in the US and dont have duel citizenship in Africa. I have a couple caucasian friends from Africa that are must more African-American then the majority of the blacks in the US. If someone came up to me a said its offensive I explain my problem with their though process and then if they still have a problem I reply with get over yourself.

There really is such a thing as to PC and its pretty much at its peak now.

How I view things is if someone isn't using derogatory remarks and someone gets offended then that person needs to get over themselves.

The thing I find most offensive is a black who uses the N word habitually. I have fired a few and refused to hire some people because of that. The only other word I take offense to is ******. Everything else kinda just flies right by me.

Answer 3

PC has much more involved than simply not offending people. Often, the opinion that only a particular color or heritage of people can be allowed to say something for it not to be offensive is an opinion that is supported by PC.

PC doesn't protect everyone. Certain heritages are treated as if they are a blank slate that lacks a culture.

PC is about controlling what people say and creating political intrigue so that you can enter into a bout of character assassination. PC has developed out of the political BS game that pretends that politicians are squeaky clean. They aren't, so why should we participate in their BS story?

Answer 4

While it's nice to be polite and to not upset other people, there is a line that I feel people have drawn in the sand that is rediculously easy to cross. To those people, yes, I think it's okay to offend. In fact, it should be mandatory to offend people who are easily offended. It gives them cause to think.

Why should I have to dumb down myself to be PC? Why are more and more subjects so easily offensive? We weren't this way 10, 20 or 30 years ago. Why should we be now? People are too sensitive. We dance around too much just to make others happy.

If something offends me, that's my problem. Even if the person who offended me did it on purpose, it's still my problem. I alone allow others to offend me. Why should I blame others for my problem?

If someone offends you, say "Thank You" and move on. It may sting for a bit but you've just taken the wind out of the offender's sail AND empowered yourself.

Say NO to Political Correctness. It's bad.

Answer 5

Being politically correct is not necessarily not offending anyone. If your attitude about being politically correct is not offending someone, then you are constantly walking on eggshells. Be who you are. If you say something offensive to someone, be brave enough to acknowledge that you don’t understand why this particular word or particular words are offensive. Hopefully you can start the process of dialogue. Of course, this is in an ideal setting. In the real world, if someone says something that is offensive or un-PC, attempt to engage in a conversation to see where they are coming from before doing in in-depth dialogue. This way you can protect yourself from a**holes.

Answer 6

This is supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. Where EVERYONE is entitled to their own beliefs and opinions, and has the freedom to express those beliefs and opinions. PC has become the means to squash and remove those rights from you. Liberal cry baby buttkissers have determined that if anyone for any reason is offended by your beliefs that you should refrain from stating those beliefs under any circumstances. And so far we are letting them get away with it!

Answer 7

I think political correctness is a contradiction of terms.
When someone in my presence says something offensive I respond by saying I thought that was an offensive statement. Sometimes I ask what they base the statement on from their experience, sometimes I just end the conversation and remove myself so I don't feed into it.

Answer 8

Do I offend people or is it their sense of what constitutes right and wrong that offends them? If I say s__t and you say defaecate where is my word worse than yours? It is only your ego that is telling you I am offensive, hence not as good as you. We are both talking about the same thing. What makes your word better than mine?

I hate political correctness a.k.a. hypocrisy with a passion. If I offend you realize it is actually you offending yourself and quietly go away or k.m.a.

Answer 9

I saw something that really made me think--writer Robin Morgan, saying that "PC" really stands for "Plain Courtesy." I think it really upsets some people that they have to show Plain Courtesy to others, and that they can't call names or act like they're the only people who matter.

I don't think people need to go to silly extremes, but I do think the people who whine loudest about "political correctness" and their right to "tell the truth" think the "truth" is whatever mean or ugly or rude thing they can think up. I've seen that play out much too often. I'm tired of people who are so eager to tell their mean-spirited "truth" and denigrate any attempt at courtesy as "political correctness."

Answer 10

People get offended to darn easily these days. Yes, frankly, if you get offended by something, just ignore it and move on. People have gotten to be so sensitive to stuff that shouldn't really matter. I personally think it is a sign on lower selt esteem. I don't care what other people think, so I am not "offended" by the little things that a lot of people are.