What is offensive about others' efforts to be inoffensive, aka "Politically Correct"?

Answer 1

Nothing, but the time for political correctness for certain religions and beliefs has run its course and should come to an end.

Answer 2

It has long gone overboard. Here are a few examples.

There was a man sued because a friend of his called him "kimosave" (like tanto called the Lone Ranger). The man sued because he said it was racist. Once it was researched, it was found kimosave was indian for "good friend". The court rejected the case. And the idiot probably lost a good friend.

We knew a checker at a Lowe's who used to tell customers "have a blessed day". She was reported by a customer as being offensive for saying this. She was forbidden to say it again.

Many schools have let children have holiday programs. They show jewish and muslim imagery and songs, while at the same time, any Christmas songs with the word Jesus or God in them were still sang, but the words God or Jesus or anything else Christian were changed to something "inoffensive".

Political correctness is going to send this nation to the grave

Answer 3

In some cases being politically correct can be construed as assuming a person is sensitive to things they may not be. It can sometimes be more segregating than intended. I had a friend who was Korean, and I asked her a question one day, It began "As an Asian American...", she stopped me mid sentence and said, " maybe you should ask my mother, she is Asian American, I am an American. I had inadvertently classified her in a manner that she did not consider herself, by attempting to be politically correct. It can be hard to discern in some cases, and I find it best to simply consider everyone a person who's opinions and perspectives are not necessarily defined by their race, gender or sexual orientation. I am also not afraid to ask; if you have a culturally diverse group of friends you can always ask them what they feel is polite vs contrived. Sometimes it is just identifying someone as part of a group as opposed to as individual that is offensive. It is important to use "politically correct" language, but is still requires us to be sensitive to the context, otherwise the right words can be just as wrong.

Answer 4

I guess it's not offensive to be sensitive to others, but it can be offensive (sometimes) when you try to make other people follow your rules for political correctness when it's not a reflection of their true selves.

But what's also offensive is when people knock the whole thing down and get mad when anyone else tries to be sensitive to others.

Answer 5

There's a huge difference between someone trying to be polite, and the PC movement that is attempting to force its worldview on others through tactics such as forcing people from their jobs for saying the 'wrong thing'. Case in point, just for one example, the former president of Harvard, no raging conservative, was forced out for daring to say what a number of studies have demonstrated, that men and women are different, and those differences have ramifications in career choices. That's just one. There are countless examples where you will be demonized and damaged, people will try to hurt you, if you don't think the way they think, and dare say it out loud.

Answer 6

Some people get offended no matter what your intentions are, but I guess something isn't offensive unless they mean it to be offensive...
So I guess nothing.

But if someone is offending someone than they should be making ore of an effort. Unless the offended person is over-reacting.

Answer 7

I think calling a black and "african american" can be taken as a false attempt to pacify the race by throwing them a bone.

They may not be black, but they are much, MUCH darker. I don't think anyone would disagree, and I've never met a black that minded being called black, but Many mind the PC term.

Answer 8

I do think this PC thing has went a little OTT ...
but it is not offensive if someone is trying to do the right thing
how can anyone find fault in that ?

Answer 9

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter holiday season, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, sexual orientation, or other preference or lifestyle choice of the wishee, not that certain orientations are choices, and might, in fact, be genetic in nature. I celebrate your DNA, and that of every person presently sustaining life, or no longer, including, of course, indigenous and aboriginal groups with their own, equally valid creation traditions and practices. That is not to say that other other non-hominid living beings are not important at this time of year and this includes particularly sensitive and often overlooked not-harvestable endangered taxonomic groups and island endemics.

Answer 10

There is a drive to supress Christian religious speech as being less deserving of free speech. True Americans should find that offensive.

Answer 11

Because they're usually insincere and are just parroting around the phraseology of the moment. No original thought.