What is the difference between 'being politically correct' and 'being polite'?

Question

Please give specific examples, if you can.

Answer 1

I feel people be polite because they want to, they have been taught it is the correct way to be, or because this is how they truly feel.
People are "PC" because they are afraid of letting others know how very shallow and thoughtless they really are, or because they are afraid that others will think they are racist, sexist, or any other kind of ist
It's also a way of saying "hey that term or saying that we/I have been using for the past decades is horrible, racist, sexist etc but it's not my/our fault because we/I just said it out of habit. We/I really didn't mean it how it sounds but I don't want to admit to how wrong I was so I'll just label it "not PC" and move on with my life no need for us to apologize or make it up to you"

Answer 2

What an interesting question. The point of being polite is to avoid being rude or thorny.

Dictionary.com defines polite as: 1. showing good manners toward others, as in behavior, speech, etc.; courteous; civil: a polite reply.

Based off of the definition, politeness is more of an action where I'd say political correctness is more in statement and making sure that your identification of people is not offensive.

Example: Being polite is not eating the last piece of pizza... or eating an extra helping of dinner that nobody else liked. Please and thank yous and opening doors for old ladys... that's polite.

Political correctness is making sure that whatever you say is non-offensive to anyone. In our small circles of friends, we may find it acceptable to make statements like "Fat people are so lazy. why can't they show self control like the rest of us?" Though the statement is not as racist or derogatory as other statements that could be made, it's offensive to people that are "obese"... maybe the statement would sound more politically corrrect this way: "Why do overweight people struggle to lose weight?" Though it's an honest and valid question, it doesn't intend to offend anyone.

Answer 3

Political correctness is annoying, and even the people that benefit from it get harassed about it. It's practiced by stupid, childish liberals that have some fascination with poor and minority people.While that is noble, you'd have to meet these people to understand how silly they are. You shouldn't like every black or poor person just because of their disadvantaged position, but some of them are like that. They would say a poor black person commits crimes and sells drugs because they have no other choice, and that it's not a bad thing. Then when they are asked to give a solution, instead of coming up with a plausible answer, they give you the run-around.

A person that ardently practices political correctness is usually one of the lunatics of the town. When you go somewhere like Ann Arbor, Austin, Boulder or Seattle, that number increases exponentially. Stay away from those people.

Politeness, which those bastards don't have, is about having tact and behaving properly.

Answer 4

My answer will repeat what others said, but being politically correct is an attempt to not use words that can demean, stereotype, generalize or demoralize another group of human beings, whether they be of a different nationality, ethnicity, physical ability, etc. For instance, someone calling a black person the "N" word or "porch monkey" instead of black or African-American would be considered politically incorrect because it devalues the black person. Political correctness can be taken to an extreme if you do not understand the context certain terms are supposed to be in. Take the brouhaha over saying "Merry Christmas," and the Santas in New Zealand being forced to say "Ha, ha ha" versus "Ho, ho, ho." In previous years, no one gave a care about whether saying Merry Christmas was trying to exclude other holidays--it just embodied all the other spirit of the holidays, IMHO--that's just a few folks who got upset about the religious aspect of the holiday. And as for the Santas in N.Z. not being allow to bellow out St. Nick's trademark laugh because it "denigrates" women is silly, too. I can't recall Santa calling any woman in particular a ho--that's just his laugh. That's just a few folks taking his laugh way out of context. Being politically correct does try to be polite by considering how your words affect others.

Politeness, on the other hand, is doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Examples include opening doors for others, saying please and thank you, covering your mouth when you cough, etc.

Though politeness is always P.C. in that everyone wants to be treated with the same amount of courtesy and respect, I find that many folks who practice political correctness, whether liberal or conservative is not always polite in their application of P.C. For instance, many liberals become blatantly hostile and rude towards those of a religious nature and seemingly desire to squelch any religious expression at all and even though there are many conservative church-goers who contributed to much of the political incorrectness, there are some who want people to be treated fairly and equitably. And vice versa.

Answer 5

Being politically correct means not offending a group of people. ie: religious groups, ethnic groups. Being polite is taking into consideration the person you are speaking to and not offending one person. Being polite also refers to how you are interacting with people in brief day to day situations ie:not cursing at a sales person, holding a door for someone, basic manners and etiquette.

Answer 6

Politically correct is stifling your own opinions and beliefs in order not to offend someone who is a "minority". Ex. A group of Christians praying at a graduation ceremony. Being polite is just being nice to people without any regard to their beliefs, opinions or whether or not you like or know them. Ex. saying hello to a stranger.

Answer 7

specific, they're the comparable. via the years bipolar researchers and medical doctors began applying the term bipolar because of the fact it grow to be greater descriptive for a large spectrum of the affliction. Manic melancholy, grow to be form of a black or white term. additionally manic may be derogatory, it quite is comparable to maniac. I truthfully have worked with rankings of psychiatrists the two as a nurse and affected person, they say that it quite is the comparable.

Answer 8

being "politically correct" means that you cant say certain things anymore because they sound prejudice. Its good in most ways, but its bad beause we cant say an opinion on something because someone can take it the wrong way and get upset, even if that wasnt your intention.

Being polite is exactly what it sounds like, being polite. Saying 'Please' and 'Thank you', minding your manners, saying your opinion with class that gets your point across without offending someone.

Answer 9

Being politically correct means to adapt a certain ideological way of thinking in which you must always support certain things and denounce others according to that ideology. Being polite involves treating others with respect.

Answer 10

Being "politically correct" means that you can't say anything that could ever possibly offend anyone, even if it's not your intention to offend.

"Indian summer" might offend Native Americans.

One used to describe making a good deal as "Jewing" somebody down. This might offend Jewish people.

A car window used to be called, jokingly, "Mexican Air Conditioning." Might offend Mexicans.

"Merry Christmas" might offend somebody who doesn't celebrate Christmas.

I personally think political correctness is silly. Little jokes or phrases like some of these don't really hurt anybody. It's only the super-sensitive, who think they have a right not to be offended, who raise such issues.

Being polite, however, simply means saying please and thank you, keeping your word, allowing a senior citizen to have your seat on the bus, etc.

And I certainly hope I didn't offend anyone with my explanations! LOL!