what is political correctness? - Democratic Underground

undercutter2006

(287 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 10:55 PM
Original message

what is political correctness?

Why is it that the term of political correctness has been appropriated by the right? If you don't like the insulting jokes some people say about women, gays, minorities - you are teh 'PC Police'. But what about making fun of christians or american soldiers - if somebody gets offended by that nobody calls them PC Police or invokes 1st amendment rights. I think it's time to take the label back.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

ColbertWatcher

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 10:57 PM
Response to Original message

1. The first broadly used example of...

...framing.

Using the phrase political correctness is a way to end discussion. It paints the person who is accused of doing it of unreasonable censorship.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

bemildred

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:01 PM
Response to Original message

2. When other people get offended by things you approve of, e.g. racist jokes.

When you get offended it's "an outrage."

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

lvx35

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:02 PM
Response to Original message

3. I don't think the label was really ever ours.

What I heard is that it was something of a joke originally...It was a joke about how language shapes people's perceptions, like the way "politically right" means "right wing" but sounds like "politically correct", because "right" is an ambiguous word. So when the APA standard came out requesting people clarify racial conversations with stating both ethnicity and nationality, (i.e. African American) there was a joke about how they were trying to shape public opinion (emphasizing AMERICAN) which they jokingly called "politically correct". The right seized on it.

This may be wrong, but its what I heard.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Cerridwen

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:05 PM
Response to Original message

4. The recongition that there are more than...

white, able-bodied, politically connected/powerful, monied, propertied, heterosexual (or can pass as hetero), over-21 year old, males who occupy this planet; and would like their fair share, please.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Blue Fire

(588 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:11 PM
Response to Original message

5. Using paint the same color as the vehicle

to blot out those ignorant, self-righteous right wingnut bumper stickers and ribbons on big SUVs. :evilgrin:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

OHdem10

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:11 PM
Response to Original message

6. Political Correctness is the property of the Left.

This is why the Righties always complain about it.

They see it as infringing on speech. A lot of ordinary Americans
feel the same way.

I am not saying they are correct.

Example: Tom Brokaw, no right winger, has said the main contribution
of the left over the last 40 years -- is Political Correctness.
He sees this as harmful.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Lex

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:22 PM
Response to Reply #6

11. The Right-Wing Nuts made it up about the Left.

The Right-Wing Nuts get more offended, whine more often, and feel more persecuted than any other group I know, but that never gets a snotty label.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

undercutter2006

(287 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:15 PM
Response to Original message

7. basically what it is

is that i get pretty tired of people making rape jokes, and when you confront them about it responding - hey, it's just a joke, lighten up. so one usefull strategy that i like to do is to figure out what values they hold dear (usually christian, pro-american), and then make some really insensitive jokes towards their values, and when they get offended just go - HEY, WHY YOU BEING SO PC MAN, it's just a joke, this is what's wrong with our society - political correctness, we should be able to make fun of jesus or make fun of 9/11 without PC POLICE like yourself jumping all over us

makes sense?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

jpgray

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:18 PM
Response to Original message

8. The false concept that any two people can express all thoughts honestly without offending each other

Therefore we pretend that absent a few words, the thoughts that drive them also disappear.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Lex

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:20 PM
Response to Original message

9. a concept that makes bigots, homophobes, racists feel righteous

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Aristus

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:20 PM
Response to Original message

10. The right uses the term "politically correct" any time they suffer social penalties

for their bigotry, racism, homophobia and misanthropy. They think PC is the problem, instead of themselves.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Lex

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:23 PM
Response to Reply #10

12. Agreed.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

mrreowwr_kittty

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-27-07 11:26 PM
Response to Original message

13. You pretty much nailed it.

There's really no such thing as Political Correctness. What it mostly serves to do is confer blanket immunity upon bigots to say whatever they want.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Mon Apr 29th 2024, 10:35 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.