General Discussion

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

50. Other. It's more amusing than anything.

Tue Mar 12, 2013, 05:59 PM

Mar 2013

When I was a kid, "black" was considered insulting, "colored" was polite and "Negro" was very polite. Now, for no apparent reason, "black" is fine, "colored" is questionable and "Negro" is offensive. But "people of color", for some reason, is impeccably PC.

Also the inconsistencies are funny. "Jap" is terrible, but "Brit" is friendly and affectionate. There was a long DU thread about how insulting the word "Chinaman" is (compared to saying "Chinese man&quot . "Paki" is a despicable insult, "Oriental" (at least when used in the United States) is offensive, but "Pommy" and "Limey" are OK. No apparent rhyme or reason.

Also, when I was a kid, "spastic" and "crippled" were in common use. But these words became offensive and we went down the path of "handicapped", to "disabled", to "differently abled", and "specially abled", etc.

What intrigues me is who gets to decide all this stuff.

Oh, and then the whole thing where people call a Christmas Tree a "Holiday Tree" and refer to Easter Eggs as "Spring Spheres" is absolutely political correctness gone mad. Oops, I meant to say "political correctness gone mentally challenged".

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Highlight:

Political correctness, good or bad? [View all] quinnox Mar 2013 OP

Message auto-removed Hulk Smash Mar 2013 #1

somehow that doesn't extend to sex education in schools BainsBane Mar 2013 #2

I am ok with smoking roxy1234 Mar 2013 #11

You'd need to see the other thread BainsBane Mar 2013 #12

Oh I see roxy1234 Mar 2013 #31

unfortunately BainsBane Mar 2013 #40

But the steubenville case is different roxy1234 Mar 2013 #44

the point is not just the rapists BainsBane Mar 2013 #75

I know..... Go fuck yourself! You're right this feels liberating. nt Guy Whitey Corngood Mar 2013 #29

I agree with everything you have said... Kalidurga Mar 2013 #3

The word-police wars are one of the favorite ratfucking techniques used by the trolls. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #4

As an animal rights activist, I find your use of the term "ratfucking" highly offensive. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #63

What some call "political correctness" ... etherealtruth Mar 2013 #5

+1000 marmar Mar 2013 #7

Privileged people want their privilege. nt geek tragedy Mar 2013 #22

Personally OriginalGeek Mar 2013 #115

Here's the problem... derby378 Mar 2013 #19

Is there a backlash against all forms of respect and coutesy that are geek tragedy Mar 2013 #25

Depends on the context derby378 Mar 2013 #37

If who wants egalitarianism, they should stop using such words? nt geek tragedy Mar 2013 #46

Exactly derby378 Mar 2013 #58

Some bits of starstuff face societal discrimination and isolation geek tragedy Mar 2013 #60

Bingo...You are correct, Sir. whathehell Mar 2013 #114

"there aren't any privileged groups" fishwax Mar 2013 #117

How do you regard people in your own mind, however? derby378 Mar 2013 #153

i view them as human beings, but I'm also aware that there are social structures in fishwax Mar 2013 #160

Most people who hate PC are just mad they can't tell racist and/or sexist jokes. denverbill Mar 2013 #27

That's why I don't like it. bamacrat Mar 2013 #43

Say wha? nt geek tragedy Mar 2013 #51

Tee hee. n/t bamacrat Mar 2013 #96

I do not like PC and I do not tell racist and/or sexist jokes. RC Mar 2013 #80

So, sexism and racism is whatever you say it is, and geek tragedy Mar 2013 #101

I also try to avoid bullying. RC Mar 2013 #105

I try to treat everyone with the respect they deserve. nt geek tragedy Mar 2013 #119

I think you outed yourself here. RC Mar 2013 #123

It's called a sense of humor. Look into acquiring one. nt geek tragedy Mar 2013 #124

So that's what you call it. RC Mar 2013 #125

Every single person I know who whines about political correctness is racist and/or sexist, period. denverbill Mar 2013 #107

Project much? RC Mar 2013 #108

What don't you understand about the difference between most and all? denverbill Mar 2013 #110

I do, but it depends on who is using it and why. RC Mar 2013 #111

Gee, do you parse out racist and homophobic comments that much? whathehell Mar 2013 #138

Find any racist or sexists post I have made. RC Mar 2013 #144

You're not answering the question, whathehell Mar 2013 #146

You are not looking either. RC Mar 2013 #147

Looking at what?...You're entire posting history on DU? whathehell Mar 2013 #157

+10 n/t whathehell Mar 2013 #102

"Political correctness" is "conservative" code. Cary Mar 2013 #6

Bingo! wryter2000 Mar 2013 #34

true true olddots Mar 2013 #47

case in point Mnpaul Mar 2013 #91

The phrase "politically correct" is a right-wing meme Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #8

Yep. Solly Mack Mar 2013 #15

Agreed. A loaded phrase, like "War on Terror." marmar Mar 2013 #16

Well, the oppressed league of white men are outraged that their LIBERTY geek tragedy Mar 2013 #21

I might have some left-over bon-bons. Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #23

Well, our enlightened anti-PC brigade has informed us that geek tragedy Mar 2013 #26

Darwin? The scientist? Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #30

A jury found 0-6 that it was totally not sexist. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #35

Oh, there are, definitely. Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #52

LOL! whathehell Mar 2013 #106

This, +1 n/t FreeState Mar 2013 #83

+1 n/t demmiblue Mar 2013 #100

Yup... whathehell Mar 2013 #104

I think Political Correctness is misunderstood Shankapotomus Mar 2013 #9

regarding that arely staircase Mar 2013 #10

This message was self-deleted by its author dipsydoodle Mar 2013 #17

start over arely staircase Mar 2013 #24

I misinterpreted your motive dipsydoodle Mar 2013 #33

accepted arely staircase Mar 2013 #48

Political correctness is a term the use of which in America was invented by the extreme RW baldguy Mar 2013 #13

exactly BainsBane Mar 2013 #20

This. nt redqueen Mar 2013 #42

Thank YOU! smirkymonkey Mar 2013 #79

thank you. Whisp Mar 2013 #133

Doing the right thing is doing the right thing.. ananda Mar 2013 #14

When people complain about political correctness, it's usually because geek tragedy Mar 2013 #18

often arely staircase Mar 2013 #38

Of course it's artifcial--it's a rightwing myth meant to geek tragedy Mar 2013 #41

it started as that arely staircase Mar 2013 #57

Liberals also use words like "race card" against other liberals. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #64

again, artificial construct arely staircase Mar 2013 #66

Isn't it somewhat politically incorrect and racist ... spin Mar 2013 #45

Not if it's accurate. Angry white Republican men are the ones geek tragedy Mar 2013 #49

Perhaps these angry white male Republicans and other angry white males complain because ... spin Mar 2013 #73

It all depends on what we mean by courtesy and respect. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #76

I do realize that I have benefited from white privilege ... spin Mar 2013 #82

I agree that we largely agree. nt geek tragedy Mar 2013 #89

So if a study showed women overall are poor drivers snooper2 Mar 2013 #141

Data is data. So long as the study is empirically sound geek tragedy Mar 2013 #143

I agree whole heartedly olddots Mar 2013 #65

Dude, you are the personification of political correctness. Comrade Grumpy Mar 2013 #72

Oh my, I'm like the Maoists trying to oppress you. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #74

Calling something "politically correct" is right-wing nonsense. alarimer Mar 2013 #28

Look at the poll results--most DUers (likely heavily white and y-chromosomed) geek tragedy Mar 2013 #39

I'm always baffled when anyone other than the site owners claims any kind of insight Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #69

That line of thinking originated BainsBane Mar 2013 #77

Well, I'm White RobinA Mar 2013 #126

"so-called feminists" geek tragedy Mar 2013 #127

So were you going for the irony, or just didn't notice? (nt) jeff47 Mar 2013 #152

Other wryter2000 Mar 2013 #32

"I think PC is an artificial social construct that just promotes dishonesty." LittleBlue Mar 2013 #36

Other. It's more amusing than anything. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #50

Generally the people being described get to determine whether it's offensive or not. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #54

Right. But where are these people who decide? Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #61

I can try Notafraidtoo Mar 2013 #85

Some of thoses changes in the UK dipsydoodle Mar 2013 #70

I read this in Bill O'Reilly's voice. Complete with sufrommich Mar 2013 #97

Do you like the terms "Holiday Tree" and "Spring Spheres"? (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #99

They don't bother me,I'm OK with sufrommich Mar 2013 #103

Yes, most white males, who aren't, by condition of birth, vulnerable to insult & bigotry whathehell Mar 2013 #139

Sorry. I will work on trying to be outraged (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #140

You might first want to "work" at untwisting your balls whathehell Mar 2013 #145

OK. I found this link that should help in that regard. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #148

No point in sending them to me, bro whathehell Mar 2013 #154

And I thank you sincerely for helping me to face up to it. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #155

and I thank you sincerely whathehell Mar 2013 #156

dishonest? tell me how many people you have seen faint because of a word used. nt seabeyond Mar 2013 #53

To some extent advisable. moondust Mar 2013 #55

Not sure. Here in Mississippi its considered "politicaly correct" to call African-Americans "black" Rowdyboy Mar 2013 #56

The term "politically correct" predates the right's use of it. Waiting For Everyman Mar 2013 #59

They're the only ones who've complained about it since Alf was on TV geek tragedy Mar 2013 #68

+1. It's Nothing More Than A Right Wing Construct, At This Point. (nt) Paladin Mar 2013 #78

geek, have I told you lately that I love you? Whisp Mar 2013 #134

*blushing* geek tragedy Mar 2013 #135

so, so janlyn Mar 2013 #62

Walking in to a room of tall, physically fit black athletes and saying, "What's up my Negroes?" Herlong Mar 2013 #67

"PC" is the new right's concept, and one that nobody should co-opt ck4829 Mar 2013 #71

well, I must say these results surprised me! (from the OP, a thanks) quinnox Mar 2013 #81

That's cool Herlong Mar 2013 #87

Walk a Mile in My Shoes Lyrics - Elvis Presley RC Mar 2013 #88

Common decency and respect should be the guide. Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #84

You'll have to take off one vote. Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #86

You just made my day! Rowdyboy Mar 2013 #93

I'm glad to! Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #94

I did not vote. You can say anything you choose. MineralMan Mar 2013 #90

This depends entirely on context Spider Jerusalem Mar 2013 #92

I got a post hidden for using the female equivalent of dick flamingdem Mar 2013 #95

And you are surprised? whathehell Mar 2013 #112

Good point. Ironically I believe it was probably flamingdem Mar 2013 #122

I didn't read the original thread, so I'm not whathehell Mar 2013 #137

Political correctness is situational. Comrade_McKenzie Mar 2013 #98

Good thing that can go too far sometimes treestar Mar 2013 #109

I'm lukewarm on the concept. HappyMe Mar 2013 #113

I serously don't know Dpm12 Mar 2013 #116

Something is offensive if I find it offensive, and it's politically incorrect geek tragedy Mar 2013 #118

"Holiday Tree". "Spring Egg Hunt". "Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep". (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #129

Like I told my former pastor who was Bohunk68 Mar 2013 #120

I have less of a problem with "PC" than I have with.... Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2013 #121

There's a big difference between being a bigot and resisting excessive PCness. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #128

Of course not. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2013 #130

Agree nt Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #131

Agree entirely! LeftishBrit Mar 2013 #159

The first response to you is an interesting example. stevenleser Mar 2013 #132

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Mar 2013 #136

It depends on what you're referring to JonLP24 Mar 2013 #142

Surprised to see so many people outright against political correctness. tarheelsunc Mar 2013 #149

I'm an out Lesbian , who lives and works in a very conservative rural area. Vanje Mar 2013 #150

I have a feeling many of us use different definitions of PC. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #151

I think 'PC' basically means good manners and etiquette, extended to the less powerful groups LeftishBrit Mar 2013 #158