Do you think that 'political correctness' has a bad rap?

Question

I think there are many wonderful things that have came about through political correctness. I think that groups of people in society who share something in common, be it a religion, a disability, or whatever, have the right to collectively decide if they want everyone to call them by a certain word or name.

Political correctness gets a bad name when small numbers of people decide for others what they should be called, or how they should be treated.

When people mock or criticise political correctness they tend to only bring up the worst examples.

What do you think?

When I was in university I once had someone question why I was discussing religion with some people and I was told that I should not use the word 'jews', and that to use the word like that was rascist. I should say 'jewish people'. My jewish friends have always used the word 'jews' when naming the people in their religion, or when refering to the people whose struggle is documented in the Old Testament. I think this example is an example of a minority of detached students on a college or university deciding for a larger group how that group should be named and treated.

Its interesting that political correctness often involves the naming of things and people - mostly people, naming their religion, their differences, etc. But the question is: who is deciding what the name should be? The people themselves? Or some people not involved with the group that needs a new name?

Still, I think that words are very important. And I support the right of self deternimation for any marginalized or persecuted group. If a religious group, or a group of people with the same disability collectively decide that they want everyone to call them by a certain name, then folks ought to respect that. Shouldn't they?

If you believe that the movement of political correctness has no validity, then things would be wide open for people to use ANY racial term, however outdated or inaccurate, and not expect any negative reaction for using it.

Answer 1

I agree that there are certain forms of being PC that were very much needed in our society. For example, using terms like "mentally handicapped," "little people," "African American," really are great. Terms like "retarded," "midget," or "colored" just aren't proper.

However, there are times when it's taken too far, like you pointed out. We just need to be kind and smart...not overreactive and silly.

Answer 2

Well, some people took it too far. It's at the point where you are not sure what is going to offend any particular group and you never be sure if you are politically correct. Some will say that the terms in question need never be used, but I don't buy this. If I am talking about a co-worker to my husband and the persons race or background is relevant, then I will tell him their race. And trust me, there times when this is relevant to a story which has nothing to do with stereotypes! But then you have the whole Ms, Mrs, or Miss thing. Some women get mad if you don't call them exactly what you wish and take it as in insult. I personally assume all are a term of respect and don't get bent out of shape over it. So that's why. Some people started getting offended over everything. I think it has since started to take on different connotations. I think what started as a means of being either sensitive to others OR as a means of not perpetuating stereotypes has morphed into something different. And telling someone's wife you want to bone her is closer to sexual harrassment. It doesn't make you non-PC... it makes you an *sshole!!! LOL So you are just being polite when you keep some thoughts to yourself. Just because you think something doesnt' mean you should say it!

Answer 3

There are no laws regarding political correctness. In our society, anyone who speaks in public knows better than to say certain things or they would be dubbed a radical or fired from their jobs. That has to do with a lot more than "political correctness". Avoiding law suits, ratings, stirring conflict unnecessarily, losing elections, and just showing maturity, are some of the things involved when speaking of what has come to be called political correctness. It was probably best not to equate common sense in the context of speaking with politics.

Answer 4

political correctness is a laudable "concept" the only thing is to watch how it works in practice (as any religion or what not hatched at concept).I think of a jungle where each group is armed to damn others-so the battle goes on until they realise how much time they have been wasting and decide to sit down and put heads together to redefine that correctness .Then there is the mentality of the people to consider- how far do they understand politics !(If you do not agree with me just consider it from someone insane!)

Answer 5

No it doesn't get a bad rap, words are just words, they only explain what a person is, an example is Retard, that was the common term not long ago and then it was deemed offensive, so now it is Mentally Handicapped which is also becoming Offensive, people need to get over it my own father called me a kraut and a buddy called me a nazi what do I care?

Answer 6

This political correctness crap has gotten out of hand. I don't try to offend but lets face it, nowadays it is hard not to offend. How did we get to the point in this country when we are so afraid of offending everybody? Maybe if we didn't carry our emotions on our sleeves and be like one gigantic open sore, so sensitive to any little stimulation that we can't function. THe NAACP has in it's title the word *****. And yet we are not allowed to use that word. It is getting to the point where you can't say anything. I say screw it. If you don't like it, it is your problem and not mine. The nice thing about it is that you can decide what kind of person I am based on my word usage and decide for yourself if I am a decent human being. And if I care about your opinion, I will decide if it matters.

Answer 7

Political Correctness is not the civil rights movement (which, yes, did accomplish great things), it's just an extreme manifestation of liberal dogma that attempts to deny the right of free speach to political opponents - an example of 'going too far' in support of a positive ideal.

Answer 8

Nothing good as EVER come via political correctness. Has anybody telling you that you MUST think in a certain way ever actually changed your opinion about anything?

Answer 9

Politcal correctness is ruining this country. A person should be allowed to speak their mind, without having to worry about anything other than having to listen to others speak theirs. There are politicians in NY, wanting to ban the word ******. If I want to say it , them sumbitches are gonna hear it!

Answer 10

Its like anything else in the US, its been taken too far. The original intent was good. It was just the Idea of common courtesy, which is sadly uncommon.