Is There Too Much Political Correctness Now?

[vesper]

I certainly think PC is out of control. What it does is tell people what is acceptable for them to think. Rather totalitarian by any standards. When you combine that with a growing welfare state and social engineering you've got yourself one destructive combination which I believe we are seeing that destruction of unfold before our very eyes.

 

[Cardinal]

The problem with political correctness is that it is essentially a system of lies and contrived untruths. With too much political correctness, such as we have today, the entire foundation of society becomes untrue.

Political correctness is so demanded in America today that if one makes the mistake of speaking the truth, he is immediately branded as a bigot, a hater, a racist or whatever other word the PC Police can use to silence anyone who speaks the truth.

We have gone far beyond "little white lies" to save someone's feelings, all of our institutions and systems are built upon the lies of political correctness.

This cannot be good for a culture or a country.

So what would you say if you weren't reigned in by political correctness?

 

[Ikari]

I dunno. All I see political correctness as, is trying to keep people from being hurt, for one reason or another. If people would stop being jerks, there would be no reason for it anyway. But that will never happen, so I think that some level of PC is needed.

I'll probably be in the minority in believing that, though.

...that's why you create a system of law to protect the rights of the individual. But this idea that one has right against being offended I think is really tiring and costing us overall quite a bit.

 

[DVSentinel]

Any "political correctness" is too much.

 

[APACHERAT]

If you revisit Book 1 sometime, you would probably become acquainted with the basis of the concept. Although Tocqueville focuses on the speech of the majority creating a sort of tyranny of the majority (one of Tocqueville's perceived vices of democracy), the system of speech and thought control becomes quite evident.

The book you are referring to, I have thumbed through it. Haven't actually sat down and read it from cover to cover. What I read was a translation of a journal or diary he kept while traveling through America, mostly notes that were probably used when he wrote the book on his travels in America.

Tocqueville is an interesting Frenchman and what papers of his that have been published and that I have read I found to be interesting and worth reading. I would like to read his views on the French Revolution but haven't found a library near me that has it. I understand it's a good read.

Some say that Tocqueville was one of the first true political progressives.

I found one thing interesting, Tocqueville predicted that some day there would be two world powers, America and Russia. He said that in the mid 1800's.

Tocqueville quotes:

"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money."

"Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude."

 

[Amandi]

I voted yes but not because of the reasons listed.

 

[Van Basten]

The Firefox CEO thing didn't cross well with me, but Sterling got what he asked for. Sports is a very public arena and the sponsors clearly had no desire to deal with his nonsense.

It depends though, I wouldn't say there's too much PC in race-related things, but in some other areas, it can be that way. Such as the LGBT community.

 

[AlbqOwl]

Any "political correctness" is too much.

I concur. Any form of political correctness is un-American and generally will prove to be evil because political correctness by its very nature denies people their unalienable right to be who and what they are.

In the case of Sterling, if he broke specific rules to which he agreed either directly or by virtue of his association with the NBA, and the penalty for breaking those rules is the loss of his credentials with the NBA, so be it. That is between him and the NBA.

But the idea that anybody not associated with the NBA should presume to dictate to Sterling what he can and cannot think or say in private or public or else he will be punished with fines or loss of income/property or any other punitive measures is overstepping their rightful authority and are violating his rights.

 

[ecofarm]

Any form of political correctness is un-American and generally will prove to be evil because political correctness by its very nature denies people their unalienable right to be who and what they are.

Education is un-American because it denies people their unalienable right to be who and what they are!

Vive la ignorance!


Look... PC is how people who have considered various perspectives manage to have an intelligent conversation free of neanderthalic grunts and logical fallacy. It's a higher form of speech and thought, an evolution of perspectives and understanding.

I've heard of reactionaries, but in regard to understanding? Wow.

 

[ecofarm]

We have gone far beyond "little white lies" to save someone's feelings, all of our institutions and systems are built upon the lies of political correctness.

:screwy

 

[Cardinal]

Any "political correctness" is too much.

I'm not really seeing the difference between political correctness and what passes for the current expectations of polite society.

 

[AlbqOwl]

Education is un-American because it denies people their unalienable right to be who and what they are!

Vive la ignorance!


Look... PC is how people who have considered various perspectives manage to have an intelligent conversation free of neanderthalic grunts and logical fallacy. It's a higher form of speech and thought, an evolution of perspectives and understanding.

I've heard of reactionaries, but in regard to understanding? Wow.

I have no idea how you extrapolated my comment into 'education', but then I have no idea who you arrive at a number of your perceptions and comments. I will accept that as a possible limitation or defect on my part.

I said, and I will say again, that when you or anybody else presumes to punish me for no other reason than somebody doesn't like or agree with what I think, believe, profess, or say, that denies me my unalienable right to be who and what I am. When you can deny me the right to be who and what I am with impunity, there is no liberty. There are no unalienable rights. I have no right to force you to conform to what I believe, what I profess, what I think, or what I say. I have no right to require you to contribute or participate in any way, and for me to attempt to punish you if you do not would be evil and deny you your liberty. I want the same liberty. Political correctness, when anybody presumes to act it out, is evil, un-American, and should be anathema in our culture.

 

[ecofarm]

I have no idea how you extrapolated my comment into 'education',

PC boils down to social education. I, for one, am not surprised that certain segments of society oppose social evolution. The racists, homophobes, reactionaries, misogynists and a slew of other despicables hate other perspectives.

I said, and I will say again, that when you or anybody else presumes to punish me for no other reason than somebody doesn't like or agree with what I think, believe, profess, or say, that denies me my unalienable right to be who and what I am.

There is no such thing as "freedom from criticism". Get over it.

 

[AlbqOwl]

anyone who uses the term RINO is being politically correct to the Nth degree.

Anybody who uses the term RINO is being intentionally insulting. But that is not political correctness. That is being insulting.

Political correctness would be organizing to physically and/or materially punish somebody for using the term RINO.

 

[ecofarm]

I'm not really seeing the difference between political correctness and what passes for the current expectations of polite society.

It's a huge lie! Blacks, women and gays are inferior! Our civilization is being destroyed by these lesser beings thinking they deserve equal rights and opportunity!

Get it now?

 

[Fiddytree]

Anybody who uses the term RINO is being intentionally insulting. But that is not political correctness. That is being insulting.

Political correctness would be organizing to physically and/or materially punish somebody for using the term RINO.

It's used to pressure compliance.

 

[Cardinal]

It's a huge lie! Blacks, women and gays are inferior! Our civilization is being destroyed by these lesser beings thinking they deserve equal rights and opportunity!

Get it now?

Well it certainly simplifies things.

 

[ecofarm]

Well it certainly simplifies things.

It's an argument for simple people, mostly kids that don't like being spanked by their neanderthal parents.

 

[AlbqOwl]

PC boils down to social education. I, for one, am not surprised that certain segments of society oppose social evolution. The racists, homophobes, reactionaries, misogynists and a slew of other despicables hate other perspectives.



There is no such thing as "freedom from criticism". Get over it.

You are exactly right that there is no such thing as 'freedom from criticism' even if it is deemed politically incorrect to criticize it. So it is okay to criticize the guy who says the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin. And it is okay to criticize the guy who says homosexuality is a natural and wholesome human condition. But it is not okay for either to FORCE or REQUIRE the other to agree to a particular point of view. It is not okay to organize to physically and/or materially punish the person who holds the 'wrong' point of view.

If your idea of 'social education' is to physically and/or materially punish people if they don't think rightly, don't use the correct words, or believe/profess the right things, you would make a wonderful dictator or other totalitarian leader.

A teacher can specify what answers will be deemed correct on the test and is within his/her authority to grade the papers accordingly. But he or she will be way out of line if he/she grades the student down because the student writes down the 'correct' answer but personally believes the 'correct answer' to be the wrong one.

But how about I prepare you a list of what I want you to believe, think, say, believe about something. And if you do not, I will organize a protest and boycott intended to hurt you physically and/or materially. And we'll call that social education. Is that okay with you?

 

[Buck Ewer]

Political correctness ... Or social civility, as I prefer to call it, is really just an attempt on the part of the more civilized people to keep the assholes from displaying their assholeness in public discourse.
I believe that, in the end we are all better off with it, than we would be without it.

 

[ecofarm]

But how about I prepare you a list of what I want you to believe, think, say, believe about something. And if you do not, I will organize a protest and boycott intended to hurt you physically and/or materially. And we'll call that social education. Is that okay with you?

What world do you live in that those who support PC also support physical punishment? I think you've got your groups crossed. It's the cavemen that oppose PC who support physical punishment.

 

[tres borrachos]

More bacon? I don't eat bacon.

Yes it's gotten out of hand, JMO.

 

[AlbqOwl]

What world do you live in that those who support PC also support physical punishment? I think you've got your groups crossed. It's the cavemen that oppose PC who support physical punishment.

I live in a world where a Senate Majority leader was forced to relinquish his position for saying something entirely innocuous but deemed 'politically incorrect' when he was extemporaneously praising a colleague on that colleague's 100th birthday.

I live in a world where the PC police organized and did their damndest to financially hurt a radio talk show host who used the word 'slut' in reference to a Washington lobbyist.

I live in a world where the PC police organized and did their damndest to physically and financially hurt a guy who was asked a question about what he believed the Bible said and answered it honestly.

I live in a world where the PC police organized and did their damndest to financially hurt a CEO who expressed his defense of traditional marriage.

I live in a world where the PC police did their damndest to get J.C. Penney to fire Ellen DeGeneres in their corporate advertising for no other reason than Ellen is gay.

I live in a world where the PC police demanded that a Food Network star lose her position and livelihood for admitting that she used a single politically incorrect word in a deposition years before.

I live in a world where the PC police did their damndest to financially damage a baker for not wanting to participate in a gay wedding.

I could go on and on and on. But the fact is, that is what political correctness is. It denies people the ability to be who and what they are without fear that some mob will descend upon them to punish them physically and/or materially because they are not 'politically correct.'

It is wrong. It is evil. And it should be condemned in all of our society.

 

[ecofarm]

It is wrong. It is evil. And it should be condemned in all of our society.

We get it, you hate criticism. You hate consequences. You want to be able to do whatever you want, within the law, and no one is allowed to say anything. With a bit of maturity, you'll realize how stupid that position is.

 

[Sababa]

Anybody who uses the term RINO is being intentionally insulting. But that is not political correctness. That is being insulting.

Political correctness would be organizing to physically and/or materially punish somebody for using the term RINO.

you missed my point. anyone who doesn't follow someone's vision of Republican orthodoxy is considered a non=Republican a RINO. RINO is used to silent dissent in the party.