Political correctness

By that, do you mean that the change in language serves only to reinforce the prejudice?

PC language is the language of euphemism.

Euphemism gives us hideous terms like "ethnic cleansing."

PC tends to exalt the local and current party line and stifle any disagreement. The silliest examples I ever encountered were at college (of course). In one case a radical feminist was invited in to speak. After speaking, she said that she would take questions, but none from men---they couldn't possibly relate to her message or have anything to contribute. Her honorarium check was signed by a man--I wonder if her conscience let her cash it? The second example was when one of the small minority of campus Christers decided to invite an anti-abortion speaker to campus. Talk about fear and loathing! How dare anyone think of having an opinion on the subject other than staunch pro-choice? Eventually the guy (naturally it was a guy) came to speak, and he spoke to a very smalll audience. The rest of campus was disappointingly well behaved. In the long run, it was probably the most educational thing that happened on campus all year--the message being that diversity of opinion exists, it exists whether or not it is in accord with the current shibboleths, and it has a right to be heard.

FROM: Human Resources

SUBJECT: Foul Language

DATE: October 18, 2004

It has been brought to management's attention that some
individuals throughout the company have been using foul
language during the course of normal conversation with their co-workers.
Due to complaints received from some employees who may be
easily offended, this type of language will no longer be tolerated. We do
however, realize the critical importance of being able to accurately express your feelings
when communicating with co-workers. Therefore, a list of "TRY SAYING" new
phrases has been provided so that proper exchange of ideas and information
can continue in an effective manner without risk of offending our
more sensitive employees.

TRY SAYING:
Perhaps I can work late.
INSTEAD OF:
And when the fuck do you expect me to do this?

TRY SAYING:
I'm certain that isn't feasible.
INSTEAD OF:
No fucking way.

TRY SAYING:
Really?
INSTEAD OF:
You've got to be shitting me!

TRY SAYING:
Perhaps you should check with...
INSTEAD OF:
Tell someone who gives a shit.

TRY SAYING:
Of course I'm concerned.
INSTEAD OF:
Ask me if I give a shit.

TRY SAYING:
I wasn't involved in the project.
INSTEAD OF:
It's not my fucking problem.

TRY SAYING:
That's interesting.
INSTEAD OF:
What the fuck?

TRY SAYING:
I'm not sure this can be implemented.
INSTEAD OF:
This shit won't work.

TRY SAYING:
I'll try to schedule that.
INSTEAD OF:
Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?

TRY SAYING:
Are you sure this is a problem?
INSTEAD OF:
Who the hell cares?

TRY SAYING:
He's not familiar with the issues.
INSTEAD OF:
He's got his head up his ass.

TRY SAYING:
Excuse me, sir?
INSTEAD OF:
Eat shit and die.

TRY SAYING:
So you weren't happy with it?
INSTEAD OF:
Kiss my ass.

TRY SAYING:
I'm a bit overloaded at the moment.
INSTEAD OF:
Fuck it, I'm on salary.

TRY SAYING:
I don't think you understand.
INSTEAD OF:
Shove it up your ass.

TRY SAYING:
I love a challenge.
INSTEAD OF:
This job sucks.

TRY SAYING:
You want me to take care of that?
INSTEAD OF:
Who the hell died and made you boss?

TRY SAYING:
I see.
INSTEAD OF:
Blow me.

TRY SAYING:
Yes, we really should discuss it.
INSTEAD OF
Another fucking meeting!

TRY SAYING:
I don't think this will be a problem.
INSTEAD OF:
I really don't give a shit.

TRY SAYING:
He's somewhat insensitive.
INSTEAD OF:
He's a prick.

TRY SAYING:
She's an aggressive go-getter.
INSTEAD OF:
She's a ball-busting bitch.

TRY SAYING:
I think you could use more training.
INSTEAD OF:
You don't know what the fuck you're doing.

Thank You,
Human Resources

Fuck HR dept. is all I have to say.

Fair play Kuma.

To add:

The blunting of negative connotations/euphemistic effect of PC language manipulation wears off after time as we adjust to the new words, and begin to attribute the old connotations to the new terminology.

The word "gay" springs to mind as a prime example. It was introduced to our language so as to soften the blow to being homosexual. Eventually it lost all its other meanings in our language other than to be homosexual.

For political correctness to prevail new euphemistic terms thus have to be constantly reinvented in order to keep softening the blows. I wonder if the process will become cyclical (?)

The term "manhole cover" may yet return as the feminist movement reasserts the female identity as being one superior to that of the male - and one where a *true* woman wouldn't want to be seen dead beneath one of those...

Re. David Blunkett: It's not because he's blind/unsighted/visually-challenged that he lacks vision etc...

Tolerance and respect are the keys here, and not manipulation of language, its inference and implication.

Recently, bored and stuck in a waiting room, I leafed through a travel book published in the early sixties and authored by a couple of upper crust Americans. The language left the reader in no doubt as to the attitudes of the writers to the inhabitants of the countries they visited.

Our deeds and our language reveals our character.

I suspect that the term PC, when used in a perjorative sense, is shorthand for sanctimoniousness and self-righteousness. Its fair to rail against these things.

But what the hell is wrong with an expectation within society that language used publicly, academically and in broad social settings, be inclusive?

Deane

quote:

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Originally posted by Deane F:
But what the hell is wrong with an expectation within society that language used publicly, academically and in broad social settings, be inclusive?

Deane

---

It's become silly, petty and small-minded. Just think of the problems this crap is going to cause for crime and detection, now we're not allowed to describe people as tall or short or male for female, or (God forbid!) black.

"Can you describe the person you saw, madam?"

"Oh yes, officer, the person I saw was... er... a person!"

Git's right up my snout.

EW

It's a myth.

It does not exist.

It is simply a convenient,one-size-fits-all, lazy, invention by the political right, to try to attack or ridicule anything which doesn't agree with their own wishes. A gutless method of shit-stirring by people who won't say what they really mean.

Inevitably, when pushed to give documented examples, or to provide "A List of Shame" of those who who are politically correct, they fall apart like a cheap watch.

quote:

---

quoted by a liar

It's become silly, petty and small-minded. Just think of the problems this crap is going to cause for crime and detection, now we're not allowed to describe people as tall or short or male for female, or (God forbid!) black.

---

Not true (as you well know). I read a crime report in that bastion of PC, The Guardian, giving a detailed description of the black suspects.

Stven said "It was introduced to [...] soften the blow to being homosexual"

You might just try saying "Less teeth please Jeremey"

Matthew

PS ^^^^^^^^^ what Brian said.

Brian,

Okay, I exaggerate - I was trying to be funny!

It still irritates me though.

EW

I think as PC as "Political Crap"

Narrow minded individuals trying to force their warped ideas on the rest of us.

Like the Mountain Rescue Team denied Lottery funds because "It Didn't rescue enough asylum seekers"
Thats PC gone mad.

Not everyone is as narrow minded as the politically correct brigade, fortunately.

So Matthew and Brian are suggesting that 'PC' is a product of a vast right wing conspiracy intended to smear right thinking left people and hinder social progress?

They're being daft. Stupid even. Discriminatory language can be combatted but PC can still go mad. The goodness of the former says nothing about the latter.

Is this story a lie?

Paul

Are you serious, Paul ?

Is THAT the best example you can dredge up, Paul ? Do you really think that proves the existence of billions of people indulging in rampant politically correctness-ness ?

quote:

---

A Man said
"I do understand that this term has been an industry standard for years and years and this is nothing more than a plea to vendors to see what they can do," he said. "It appears that some folks have taken this a little too literally."

---

Hmmm. Let's see if anything changes. These trivial stories crop up all the time because they guarantee a big reaction. As far as I can see, there is rarely any substance to 'em, but it's a good way of winding people up. Billions of events occur every day that cannot be remotely considered "PC", but those are never mentioned as it would be a bit of a non-story.

BOR

Stupid people do dumb stuff all the time. PC gives them a fertile ground for being stupid but don't kid yourself that if PC did not exist they would not be doing dumb stuff anyway.

If you work in the private sector there is far less PC-speak but every bit as much stupidity and nonsense from managers and jobsworths. It just doesn't make it into Littlejohn's column.

Matthew

quote:

---

Originally posted by JRHardee:
PC tends to exalt the local and current party line and stifle any disagreement. The silliest examples I ever encountered were at college (of course). In one case a radical feminist was invited in to speak. After speaking, she said that she would take questions, but none from men---they couldn't possibly relate to her message or have anything to contribute. Her honorarium check was signed by a man--I wonder if her conscience let her cash it? The second example was when one of the small minority of campus Christers decided to invite an anti-abortion speaker to campus. Talk about fear and loathing! How dare anyone think of having an opinion on the subject other than staunch pro-choice? Eventually the guy (naturally it was a guy) came to speak, and he spoke to a very smalll audience. The rest of campus was disappointingly well behaved. In the long run, it was probably the most educational thing that happened on campus all year--the message being that diversity of opinion exists, it exists whether or not it is in accord with the current shibboleths, and it has a right to be heard.

---

Yeah. Been there. But that's not PC, it's just bloody pig headed stupidity. PC seems to be a blanket epithet used by bigots to defend their position. As a rule of thumb I classify PC as the sort of behaviour that would not get you into trouble at work – assuming your boss isn’t a pig. It’s too often used as a term to describe bonkers people with no sense of humour who find fault in everything. Meaning that the rest of us need to find another term to describe decent and professional behaviour.

It’s been my pleasure to fire two employees in the past, one of whom was a sexual predator , the other being an out and out racist. I don’t think that’s political correctness – just plain common sense. They didn’t see it that way. And when I see people going bonkers over ‘political correctness gone mad’ it reminds me of people like that – rightly or wrongly.

Why go mad and start puking about the perils of PC if you’re on firm ground in the first place. Who are you trying to convince – us or you?

Cheers

Harry

quote:

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Is THAT the best example you can dredge up, Paul ?

---

How many examples would you need to refute 'It's a myth. It does not exist'?

I picked the first one I found that shows that, indeed, it isn't a myth and it does exist.

Paul

You post a link to a story that's a year out of date, a trivial issue brought by some nut, that appears to have had precisely zero impact in the IT world or any where else for that matter and you think that proves your point ?

Fair enough, you win.

Obviously PC madness has abated in the last year. That's OK then.

Paul

quote:

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Originally posted by Deane F:
I suspect that the term PC, when used in a perjorative sense, is shorthand for sanctimoniousness and self-righteousness. Its fair to rail against these things.
Deane

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You posted this in another thread and I should say that I agree. This is what I think of when I see a person as being part of what is called the 'PC brigade'.