Would you please consider using the word "respect" (or disrespect) instead of "politically correct"?

[Shankapotomus]

47. You have judge each case on

Last edited Sun May 20, 2012, 09:11 AM - Edit history (3)

its merits. Someone's pain is usually another's over sensitivity. So the real question should be, does addressing some group's idea of pain, inflict pain on another group? If it doesn't put anybody else out in a significant way, one should consider adapting to a group's request for a change in behavior. For instance, people throw around the term "retard" often. But this is found offensive to many people with and who know people with different physiological cognitive abilities. It doesn't hurt me one bit from refraining from using that term and I'm happy to do it, even though I personally know no one facing cognitive ability challenges. Yet some people will belabor the point that it infringes on their free speech leaving the only option to continue to offend people.You don't have to know or feel why another group is offended by something. You just have to ask is it really that much of an inconvienance to me to give somebody a little slack and make their existence a little easier if all it is is changing a name on a team or redesigning a state flag?

In addition, political correctness doesn't mean you have to refrain from language around people of your inner circle who get the "joke" and know you're not really a hateful or mean person. Case in point are the many fans of South Park and Family Guy whose ethnic and physical differences have been targeted (myself included) yet still love those shows. It just means you are aware of the difference of when you are among the public at large and when you are among your inner circle of friends who will be more adept at knowing when you are serious and when you are joking.

It's all about being aware of different perspectives under different contextes, not about making everyone over-sensitive.

As much as an advocate for political correctness as I am, I have a lesbian cousin who throws out the term "fag" as a joke at family gatherings. Everyone knows it's a joke and I find it particularly hilarious. So the argument that advocating political correctness is just going to make everyone boring and stale and sensitive has no real merit for me. My life is no less colorful and fun than anyone else's, maybe more so because I can enjoy life's little forays into political in-correctness under the right context and without fearing who will be offended next.

But if your attitude is "I'm going to say what I want, wherever and under any context I want" and not worry about who is offended, to me, that's like shooting an arrow up in the air and not caring where it will land. You're just asking to be called out on it.