General Discussion

quinnox

(20,600 posts)

37. the tendency to get word policey and the want to control speech and what words other people can use

Tue Oct 30, 2012, 08:03 PM

Oct 2012

As someone who admires what Orwell wrote, I have to say I cringe when I see fellow liberals try and be the thought police and control the language by erasing offensive terms from the vocabulary in a noble but misguided attempt to not offend people.

Sometimes people will offend people, it is the price of free speech. Deal with it. You will never wipe that out from human behavior and speech unless you do a serious 1984 style scrubbing of the language. I don't want to live in a society like that, where everyone must speak "newspeak".

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Are there Liberal traits that you DON'T like? [View all] Locut0s Oct 2012 OP

What ones don't you like? n/t leftstreet Oct 2012 #1

I updated my OP. thanks. Locut0s Oct 2012 #10

The "nice" trait DollarBillHines Oct 2012 #2

Agreed. Unfortunately people will be offended by this thread and it will be locked. n/t Pryderi Oct 2012 #5

That would be a shame :( nt Locut0s Oct 2012 #11

When the Repigs tell you they are going to destroy hifiguy Oct 2012 #61

I would tend to agree with this... Volaris Oct 2012 #93

One can empathize AND hit them with a stick. Odin2005 Oct 2012 #106

Yes. I know this hurts. It's supposed to. n/t lumberjack_jeff Nov 2012 #145

Anthropomorphizing of animals scheming daemons Oct 2012 #3

I hate it when someone claiming to be a liberal says things like "We can all agree..." slackmaster Oct 2012 #4

trick question, eh? n/t warrprayer Oct 2012 #6

I don't like the way progressives allow themselves to be divided and marginalized. Vincardog Oct 2012 #7

Liberals and Progressives are not the same. GeorgeGist Oct 2012 #97

Right Progressives are Liberals who are to scared of the Corporate Owned Press to call themselves Vincardog Oct 2012 #129

The two terms used to mean the opposite things, actually. Progressive is the original term. Selatius Oct 2012 #130

+1 EmeraldCityGrl Nov 2012 #153

Some of them want to take my light bulbs away... reformist2 Oct 2012 #8

Sometimes, the most easily offended rule the roost. cliffordu Oct 2012 #9

George Carlin wouldn't last ten posts here hifiguy Oct 2012 #62

Good fucking point... Lightbulb_on Oct 2012 #63

Sometimes a less than robust sense of humor get the red out Oct 2012 #12

I was just about to say Stick-up-the-butt-no-sense-of-humor.... NightWatcher Oct 2012 #14

+1 Johonny Oct 2012 #17

Some jokes don't fly on DU that I suspect many here might secretly find funny. nt Incitatus Oct 2012 #30

The will to play dirty Floyd_Gondolli Oct 2012 #13

yep 2pooped2pop Oct 2012 #28

Well Said. (nt) Paladin Oct 2012 #114

Voting Nader/3P or sitting home b/ "both candidates are the same." kysrsoze Oct 2012 #15

they tend to live up to the old expression OKNancy Oct 2012 #16

Nancy, I am one of those frustrated with red state DU people, even lurkers. bluestate10 Oct 2012 #44

Do you know how hard it is to change a culture? antigone382 Oct 2012 #67

No money for county Democratic organizations. Manifestor_of_Light Nov 2012 #148

Yes, Dean's fifty state strategy was working wonders. antigone382 Nov 2012 #155

This is EXACTLY what the poster was talking about. Hosnon Nov 2012 #152

+1, Every word Populist_Prole Oct 2012 #49

+1. i'm sick of upper-class cheap labor lifestyle libertarians posing as liberals. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #134

I would agree with this. Also the idea that understanding racism, sexism, classism, etc.. antigone382 Oct 2012 #68

Having to many recycling bins Brother Buzz Oct 2012 #18

Making the perfect the enemy of the good Recursion Oct 2012 #19

^^^ this ^^^ WilliamPitt Oct 2012 #21

Yep. (nt) Posteritatis Oct 2012 #40

Yep. Agree. Politicub Oct 2012 #53

okay, i'll take this answer for $500 Alex CreekDog Oct 2012 #74

I Am In Agreement In Most Things ... WiffenPoof Oct 2012 #20

Probably. Wait Wut Oct 2012 #22

Anti-union people who claim to be liberals really piss me off NNN0LHI Oct 2012 #23

I am anti-police unions. 100% Logical Oct 2012 #26

Im not much of a fan of prison guard unions either... DLine Oct 2012 #77

Hear hear lumpy Oct 2012 #31

Agree with you 100%!!!!! BigDemVoter Oct 2012 #41

+1000 1gobluedem Oct 2012 #58

I call those relatives of the 'third way' group. Zalatix Oct 2012 #84

Post removed Post removed Oct 2012 #24

Oh my n/t leftstreet Oct 2012 #29

... Arugula Latte Oct 2012 #39

Spoken with the level of disdain that makes my point. Thanks Mponti Oct 2012 #55

Talk about speaking with disdain: "Even the convention seemed like an EEOC gathering." Arugula Latte Oct 2012 #64

Who Will SpeaK For The White Males HangOnKids Oct 2012 #83

actually, a lot of them are. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #135

Republicans claim to. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2012 #146

And next time you wonder why.. MicaelS Nov 2012 #150

Rolling out the typical bromides? Please proceed Mponti Oct 2012 #88

Your Comments Re EEOC And Multiculturism...... Paladin Oct 2012 #104

A Gross Distortion Of The Point Of That Post ProfessorGAC Oct 2012 #102

No, the poster was complaining about multiculturalism and EEOC meetings. Arugula Latte Oct 2012 #117

That wasnt my agenda....it was your agenda to totally miss.. Mponti Oct 2012 #120

You've Missed The Mark By A Light Year ProfessorGAC Oct 2012 #127

Because minorities are getting a fairer shake these days LanternWaste Oct 2012 #123

Demanding ideological purity RomneyLies Oct 2012 #25

i don't really consider these to be liberal but idiots who bash homeless people JI7 Oct 2012 #27

Authoritarian "liberals" kind of get under my skin at times. LAGC Oct 2012 #32

I agree PD Turk Oct 2012 #78

Couldn't agree more. eqfan592 Nov 2012 #137

My list of "Things I don't like about liberals" ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2012 #33

Intolerance. nolabear Oct 2012 #34

Some really have a problem with blue collar people and tastes FrodosPet Oct 2012 #60

+1. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #136

Political correctness LTR Oct 2012 #35

Liberals indeed sometimes go overboard with political correctness. redgreenandblue Nov 2012 #140

Saying whatever you want? alp227 Nov 2012 #141

See what I mean? LTR Nov 2012 #154

I am frustrated by some liberal traits and positions, I don't hate them. bluestate10 Oct 2012 #36

the tendency to get word policey and the want to control speech and what words other people can use quinnox Oct 2012 #37

What words are being controlled.... NCTraveler Oct 2012 #112

Just because speech is free doesn't necessarily make the speech morally right. alp227 Nov 2012 #142

Intolerance sarisataka Oct 2012 #38

I hate Mika Brzezinski limousine style "liberals" TheKentuckian Oct 2012 #42

The 'socially liberal but economically conservative' claim annoys me too LeftishBrit Nov 2012 #133

I can think of a few. sagat Oct 2012 #43

Nanny-statism Seeking Serenity Oct 2012 #45

That's about how I feel, too. OnionPatch Oct 2012 #81

Yep..good post.. Upton Oct 2012 #103

You hit the nail on the head. eqfan592 Nov 2012 #138

Disdain for Southerners (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2012 #46

I live all the way up in CT and agree with that. Jennicut Oct 2012 #118

When I saw your thread's title, I had a couple ideas.... TroglodyteScholar Oct 2012 #47

What bothers me most Berserker Oct 2012 #48

I don't think #1 and #3 are really liberal traits fishwax Oct 2012 #50

Intolerance. Zax2me Oct 2012 #51

Heartily agree, intolerance is why I switched sides. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2012 #57

You are relatively new here. It can be frustrating, but you will witness a huge diversity of bluestate10 Oct 2012 #65

Douchbagery exists in every group. There are good and bad people of Politicub Oct 2012 #52

I often feel bullied by fellow liberals mykpart Oct 2012 #54

I come from deep christian roots, but am now a non-believer, at least in the biblical bluestate10 Oct 2012 #66

I hope so too. mykpart Oct 2012 #89

The inability to admit that some cultures are better than others. Throd Oct 2012 #56

Three Things distantearlywarning Oct 2012 #59

there is within elements of liberalism a puritanical busy-body strain that can be a bit like this: Douglas Carpenter Oct 2012 #69

+1 quinnox Oct 2012 #70

Um...no. Wait, wait...um...no, no. So sorry. Zorra Oct 2012 #71

over-sensitivity smackd Oct 2012 #72

keeping our freaking powder dry! RepublicansRZombies Oct 2012 #73

Tolerance for all manner of flakiness coupled with intolerance for certain groups XemaSab Oct 2012 #75

+ 1,000,000,000.......... Puzzledtraveller Oct 2012 #109

+1 lumberjack_jeff Nov 2012 #147

Nope not a fucking one! lonestarnot Oct 2012 #76

Some of us are prone to be rather cynical and negative cherish44 Oct 2012 #79

One. I'll just call it the "instant conspiracy". ANY time the Universe, Fate, or Coincidence cherokeeprogressive Oct 2012 #80

The extremely lax attitude toward male-bashing is one issue that irritates me. Zalatix Oct 2012 #82

The only problems occur when people fail to live up to liberal traits. Union Scribe Oct 2012 #85

to be honest, pacifism PowerToThePeople Oct 2012 #86

Bigotry and ignoring said bigotry. Behind the Aegis Oct 2012 #87

The Beatification of Bill Clinton and all things Clinton-era. 500,000 Iraqi children died coalition_unwilling Oct 2012 #90

The self-righteousness begin_within Oct 2012 #91

Hair legged liberal women. Ain't no reason for that, ya know? nt cecilfirefox Oct 2012 #92

You first. Le Taz Hot Oct 2012 #101

I cant stand liberals on DU that assume someones a troll Utah_liberal Oct 2012 #94

Can't stand apathy qwyatt Oct 2012 #95

Being too darned nice to the cruel opposition. Not recognizing their pure greed. Overseas Oct 2012 #96

Both sides are equally good at throwing out strawmen. Thegonagle Oct 2012 #98

Thank you!!! GoCubsGo Oct 2012 #125

The endless excuse makers Le Taz Hot Oct 2012 #99

I emphatically endorse your post Shrek Oct 2012 #110

Yes, in fact you are indulging in it right at the moment.. Fumesucker Oct 2012 #100

We are too nice and willing to think people are rational. Odin2005 Oct 2012 #105

Liberals and conservatives sometimes share traits. Quantess Oct 2012 #107

Y'all are too nice :) TBF Oct 2012 #108

Agree deutsey Oct 2012 #111

This. Starry Messenger Oct 2012 #121

Factionalism and sectarianism LeftishBrit Oct 2012 #113

I live and work around Berkeley, so, oh yeah, I have a list Prism Oct 2012 #115

I laugh because it is true. Starry Messenger Oct 2012 #119

Hmmm. Marinedem Oct 2012 #116

Agree 100%, good post. MicaelS Oct 2012 #122

What is your primary concern here? What exactly motivated you to post this? Zorra Oct 2012 #124

Jesus, where do I start? Safetykitten Oct 2012 #126

"The selling out of the time honored positions of making change Zorra Oct 2012 #128

In the context of American politics? Spider Jerusalem Oct 2012 #131

Agreed. distantearlywarning Oct 2012 #132

great post. I'm surprised this post is still getting responses OKNancy Nov 2012 #143

Insistence on taking the high road, even if it means losing the battle... VOX Nov 2012 #139

Many. Where to start? lumberjack_jeff Nov 2012 #144

What I dislike about *some* liberals' views Dash87 Nov 2012 #149

Banning soda, plastic bags, and happy meals Ter Nov 2012 #151

There aren't enough of us LeftInTX Nov 2012 #156