NationStates Jolt Archive

Or are people really easy to offend these days? Everyone is so sensitive, even if it isn't a horrible insult. That comic from Last Comic Standing had a really good point. He talked about how groups like blacks, Indians (oh, excuse me, Native Americans), gays, women (feminists), other ethnic groups, et cetera (sp?) are always whining. They get offended by things like jokes and stereotypes (toughen up people) yet people tell fat jokes all the time and all the fat people rarely complain. I just found that interesting. But I do think people should either lighten up or toughen up. What ever happened to "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me".

Hellooooo! Are people too offended to post on this topic or something?

Or are people really easy to offend these days? Everyone is so sensitive, even if it isn't a horrible insult. That comic from Last Comic Standing had a really good point. He talked about how groups like blacks, Indians (oh, excuse me, Native Americans), gays, women (feminists), other ethnic groups, et cetera (sp?) are always whining. They get offended by things like jokes and stereotypes (toughen up people) yet people tell fat jokes all the time and all the fat people rarely complain. I just found that interesting. But I do think people should either lighten up or toughen up. What ever happened to "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me".

You're allowed to insult middle class young white males and that's all.
Sod that, I'll ridicule who I see fit.
Equality in ridicule!

Hellooooo! Are people too offended to post on this topic or something?

There isn't anything to post about. You've hit it right on.

There isn't anything to post about. You've hit it right on.

Oh, well in that case, thank you for not replying.

Or are people really easy to offend these days? Everyone is so sensitive, even if it isn't a horrible insult. That comic from Last Comic Standing had a really good point. He talked about how groups like blacks, Indians (oh, excuse me, Native Americans), gays, women (feminists), other ethnic groups, et cetera (sp?) are always whining. They get offended by things like jokes and stereotypes (toughen up people) yet people tell fat jokes all the time and all the fat people rarely complain. I just found that interesting. But I do think people should either lighten up or toughen up. What ever happened to "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me".

Because just as 'Political Correctness' is a good thing. Conservatives bash it by saying ignorant things like 'YOUR NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO BE RACIST ANYMORE!!!!' - To be honest its all media frenzy anyway.

And Native Americans where subject to ethnic cleansing out of areas deemed to be 'earmarked for civilisation' - they suffered terribly and they have a right to angry.

Because just as 'Political Correctness' is a good thing. Conservatives bash it by saying ignorant things like 'YOUR NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO BE RACIST ANYMORE!!!!' - To be honest its all media frenzy anyway.

And Native Americans where subject to ethnic cleansing out of areas deemed to be 'earmarked for civilisation' - they suffered terribly and they have a right to angry.

The freaked out because in an Outkast performance the backup dancers were wearing Indian outfits and had feathers in their head bands. Feathers are "sacred" so they flipped. I mean come on, it is a feather. Wearing a feather if you aren't a Native American isn't like burning a cross on stage.

i dont even think its the butt of the jokes who get offended. (well OK maybe the feminists do). i think people get offended "on behalf" of other people. "oh you shouldnt say that abou tthe differently abled" kind of thing

People are extremly easy to offend. you ask someone to explain what they mean when they state something, and they take it as a personal attack.

and to what the other poster said about conservatives complaining that they cant be racist anymore. Just Shut Up. How is it that it is alright for somone to call me White, but it is an insult if I refer to someone as black? Its a descripter, nothing more. How can a person of color call for an end to racism, and yet they still divide the issue between whites and blacks? Are their not "white" people who agree with their call, the same as there are "black" people who are against affermative action. A caucasian is not automatically a racist, and yet they are grouped with the KKK when the NAACP refers to "those whites" Here is an editorial I found that is really good at explaining how political correctness is a bunch of BS.


Editorial: Too Damn Sensitive
by Josh Righter

While I was driving today, a radio commercial came on for some product or another (I think it's a testament to modern advertising that I often recall irritating qualities of commercials, but not what product they were advertising, but that's another editorial). The product had to do with being comfortable after a day of hard work, and used the example of a man coming home after a tough game of recreational football with the guys, or a woman heading inside after gardening in the hot sun. In the back of my mind, where I was vaguely listening to the commercial, I thought, "Hey, way to further gender stereotypes." As the thought permeated through the rest of my brain, however, I became alarmed.

"Why did I just think that?" I asked myself. "What's wrong with me?"

Because, of course, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that commercial, other than it not being very effective at making me remember what it was selling. In all likelihood, it would be a lot more probable for the "man" of the household to come home from playing football than it would for his wife to. Of course, there are exceptions to this -- I'm a man (for real, I just checked), and I haven't played football since I was ten and the neighborhood kids managed to lure me in to a few games. But generally speaking, this is what many men do as a pastime, just as many women garden as a pastime. There's no crime in observing these trends and making a commercial designed to appeal to those who follow them.

The thing is, though, there seems to be an attitude in our society these days that tries to make us believe that there is something wrong with stating the obvious. "Women don't have to garden!" it argues with veracity. "They can play football if they want!" Or, "Just because I'm a man, that means I have to butt heads and play football? What if I want to garden?"

Another example: My girlfriend was attempting to remember the name of someone she'd seen, and was explaining his appearance to someone who knew him. The guy happened to be black, and so my girlfriend, living in a predominantly white area, used this as a descriptor. The person she was talking to, upon hearing this, acted shocked, and said in hushed tones, "That's racist."

You can call this way of thinking "political correctness" or "tolerance" or even "being a god damned hippie"; whatever you call it, I'm sure you've encountered it at some point or another. And whatever you call it, there's little doubt as to where it comes from: reactionary people who are attempting to perform the exact opposite from the days where blacks were oppressed and without rights, and women were looked down on as inferior. It's a classic pendulum example, one among many in history. But that doesn't make it any less annoying to witness, or any less irritating when you realize it's gotten to you, too, and you didn't even want it there.

For the women's libbers and uber-sensitive men from the first example: yes, ladies, you can play football! And guys, garden until your hands bleed! Just don't expect the majority of Americans -- like those the commercial was created for -- to follow along with you. That doesn't take away your rights any or diminish your position, but it does let the millions of other people who do follow the stereotype know that this product might be for them. And yes, it's okay to use the color of someone's skin to describe them, provided you don't follow it up with, "I hate his race."

Certainly, women continue to be thought of as inferior by some, and real racism is far from being eradicated (and it's likely that it never will be). This does not give us license, however, to become so sensitive that we ignore that people really do sometimes behave according to stereotypes, or ignore that using someone's race or culture as a descriptor does not equal hated or discrimination of them. We should not judge someone immediately based on their skin color or sex or economic standing or what have you, but neither should we assume that no one has the tendency to act the way that so many before them have, or pretend that speaking what race someone is out loud is somehow offensive to them.

source: http://www.enduringvision.com/archives/too_damn_sensitive.htm

The reason people get offended is because once a group becomes the butt of a lot of jokes, it gradually becomes marginalised. The meanings and values that are implicit to the jokes become connotations of the groups in question, and thus harmful stereotypes are created. Although you seem to believe these stereotypes are harmless for some reason, they clearly are not when people internalise them and only view these groups through the veil of a stereotype. They "whine" because these jokes are not harmless and meaningless, they have incredible power. Our language is laden with values and layers of meanings that partially control how we think about the world (sapir-whorf hypothesis). There is plenty of evidence that shows how cultures with very different foundations (such as grammar and syntax) in their language think differently because of it. So when words in a language become value laden thanks to stereotypes, it is not harmless.
This is partially what political correctness is trying to solve. For example, it is not PC to use "he" or "man" as a gender neutral term (which is standard in a lot of classical literature), because this creates a psychological bias towards thinking only of men when considering whatever the term was referring to (i.e. talking about doctors and using "he" as the gender neutral).

Sorry to post again, but I just thought of something and wanted to say it - why do people get really agitated about political correctness? The ideology fundamentally wants to allow everyone in society to have a fair deal with equality of consideration, and not be marginalised into an unfair role. This is a good intention surely? What is so irritating or problematic about this? Our children who are learning language need to understand what words actually mean and how they are used, and surely it is best to teach them language that isnt laden with insulting values and marginilising connotations?

I agree though, I can see how it would be annoying to say something naturally only to have someone scowl at you and call you racist/bigoted/whatever. People should be more tolerant of others that dont understand political correctness and still use old unfair value laden terms that are insulting to many. It is not their fault, these terms are leftovers from oppressive times. If people realise this, then the conservative wouldn't have to say "an end to political correctness!", which is a completely stupid statement. It is, in effect, saying "we want it to be normal to say things that have racist and sexist connotations!"

I don't think it's just you at all - I fully agree.

Personally, I (mostly) blame the PC movement (and related movements) that seem to teach that the best way to deal with prejudice or insults is to jump up and down like a chicken with it's ass on fire, rather than try to either educate the prejudiced party or try to dissect the roots of their prejudice.

Squealing like a stuck pig when you feel you've been slighted is possibly a good "quick fix" or bandaid solution, but a long term solution can only come through education and mutual understanding.

I don't think it's just you at all - I fully agree.

Personally, I (mostly) blame the PC movement (and related movements) that seem to teach that the best way to deal with prejudice or insults is to jump up and down like a chicken with it's ass on fire, rather than try to either educate the prejudiced party or try to dissect the roots of their prejudice.

Squealing like a stuck pig when you feel you've been slighted is possibly a good "quick fix" or bandaid solution, but a long term solution can only come through education and mutual understanding.

Exactly. Lots of people get angry with stereotypes, but what have they done to get rid of them? Or clear them up?

I think people just whine too much... now I know I'm probably biased, since I am myself asian, but I honestly cannot recall anytime where an asian cries out that we need more representation in the media, or that we are denied acceptance into schools because we aren't white, never heard of any any asians get offended if someone uses that as an adjective, etc.

As to the thing about native americans being mistreated or blacks and women being mistreated back in history, yeah, they were, SO WHAT? What right does that give people of that race NOW to claim certain special rights? Asians were mistreated and discriminated against when immigration to the U.S and Canada first began to rise (from asia that is), japanese were thrown in the equivalent of concentration camps in Canada (not sure about the U.S) during world war II, plenty of chinese died for very very substandard wages building the Canadian railroad, yet you'll never see a single asian complain that they want special rights because of this?

So, not meaning to generalize as I know there are plenty of women/blacks/natives or whatever who realize how stupid this PC crap is, but to those who think they are being attacked when someone describes you as "black", learn some common sense.

What I think is unfair is how a white person can't say something racist (I'm not saying that racial comments are in any sense good) especially about blacks. But black people are constantly making fun of whites and using racist names (i.e. crackahs) all over TV all the time. Do you see white people complaining? No. I've heard black people call each other "******" all the time, but if a white man says it all hell breaks loose. Racial comments aren't good coming from anyone, so why are non-white races allowed to use them and not get their butt kicked?

Cause people are just whiny babies. PC will be the downfall of us all. Everyone is just afraid of being called a racist, not me of course I speak my mind and to hell with everyone else for all I care. Its really not fair the only people who can be made fun of is middle-Upper class white men and hill billys.

Indians (oh, excuse me, Native Americans)

Umm, let's see. India is in Asia. Native Americans live in North America. There's a difference. Basic geography.

Cause people are just whiny babies. PC will be the downfall of us all. Everyone is just afraid of being called a racist, not me of course I speak my mind and to hell with everyone else for all I care. Its really not fair the only people who can be made fun of is middle-Upper class white men and hill billys.

Don't forget fat people and elderly women.

Umm, let's see. India is in Asia. Native Americans live in North America. There's a difference. Basic geography.

I know, I'm not saying they should be called Indians. I usually say NA but I was to refering to the way they overreact when someone does use the wrong term.

There are a lotta Nazies out there.

What I think is unfair is how a white person can't say something racist (I'm not saying that racial comments are in any sense good) especially about blacks. But black people are constantly making fun of whites and using racist names (i.e. crackahs) all over TV all the time. Do you see white people complaining? No. I've heard black people call each other "******" all the time, but if a white man says it all hell breaks loose. Racial comments aren't good coming from anyone, so why are non-white races allowed to use them and not get their butt kicked?
You see, personally, I don't give a damn. I wouldn't use the word ******, but I don't think crackah has the same stigma to it. It honestly doesn't bother me that much. I wouldn't be keen to be called it myself, naturally, but only because its an insult not because of the racial connotations. I don't feel the need to fight for my right to use racist terminology.

it wouldn't be fun if no one got offended.. ;)

What I think is unfair is how a white person can't say something racist (I'm not saying that racial comments are in any sense good) especially about blacks. But black people are constantly making fun of whites and using racist names (i.e. crackahs) all over TV all the time. Do you see white people complaining? No. I've heard black people call each other "******" all the time, but if a white man says it all hell breaks loose. Racial comments aren't good coming from anyone, so why are non-white races allowed to use them and not get their butt kicked?


Rather than ask why you can't be a racist pig; should you not be asking why THEY are being racist now, and figuring out what we can do to open more eyes to the fact that racism itself is wrong?

If you can conduct yourself without having to classify and typify people based on race, you've reach a level of expression that is both rare and truly good. A divine perspective that treats all as equals in birth and lets induvidual merit define that person alone. Such a perspective is a gift, not to be cast aside so you can wallow in degrading terms of racial exclusion.

Am I wrong? Is racism a commodity that you wish to have? Or is this merely "growing pains" from those in transition from one way of thinking to another?

If watch some of those black sitcoms, you'll realize that they make fun of black people as well..

If watch some of those black sitcoms, you'll realize that they make fun of black people as well..

Only black can make fun of blacks.

Umm, let's see. India is in Asia. Native Americans live in North America. There's a difference. Basic geography.


That is why I call them "injuns".

Or are people really easy to offend these days? Everyone is so sensitive, even if it isn't a horrible insult. That comic from Last Comic Standing had a really good point. He talked about how groups like blacks, Indians (oh, excuse me, Native Americans), gays, women (feminists), other ethnic groups, et cetera (sp?) are always whining. They get offended by things like jokes and stereotypes (toughen up people) yet people tell fat jokes all the time and all the fat people rarely complain. I just found that interesting. But I do think people should either lighten up or toughen up. What ever happened to "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me".



*I didn't read anyone else's comments/posts [ don't get offended ;-p ], but I relate to what you mean...I am very UN PC and I encounter the over sensitive backlash at least 5 times a week.....

Here's a little less than a year old story ....

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.reut/

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Los Angeles officials have asked that manufacturers, suppliers and contractors stop using the terms "master" and "slave" on computer equipment, saying such terms are unacceptable and offensive.

The request -- which has some suppliers furious and others busy re-labeling components -- came after an unidentified worker spotted a videotape machine carrying devices labeled "master" and "slave" and filed a discrimination complaint with the county's Office of Affirmative Action Compliance.

In the computer industry, "master" and "slave" are used to refer to primary and secondary hard disk drives. The terms are also used in other industries.

"Based on the cultural diversity and sensitivity of Los Angeles County, this is not an acceptable identification label," Joe Sandoval, division manager of purchasing and contract services, said in a memo sent to County vendors.

"We would request that each manufacturer, supplier and contractor review, identify and remove/change any identification or labeling of equipment components that could be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive in nature," Sandoval said in the memo, which was distributed last week and made available to Reuters.


That's just too sensitive - How are we ever going to get past things like that ...if we let those little things bother us ? My answer is WE WON'T !!!

Rather than ask why you can't be a racist pig; should you not be asking why THEY are being racist now, and figuring out what we can do to open more eyes to the fact that racism itself is wrong?

If you can conduct yourself without having to classify and typify people based on race, you've reach a level of expression that is both rare and truly good. A divine perspective that treats all as equals in birth and lets induvidual merit define that person alone. Such a perspective is a gift, not to be cast aside so you can wallow in degrading terms of racial exclusion.

Am I wrong? Is racism a commodity that you wish to have? Or is this merely "growing pains" from those in transition from one way of thinking to another?

Okay, why are they being racist now? Most white people have no desire to be racist for two reasons 1) they are afraid to say anything racial because of what the consequences may be and 2) they really don't care what other people's skin color is anymore. So why all of the sudden do non-whites feel the need to mock whites? Now that they have their rights they seem brave enough to be racist themselves. It sure doesn't make any sense to me.

Political Correctness- Paranoid right wing tossers getting paranoid about paranoid left wing tossers.

Or are people really easy to offend these days? Everyone is so sensitive, even if it isn't a horrible insult. That comic from Last Comic Standing had a really good point. He talked about how groups like blacks, Indians (oh, excuse me, Native Americans), gays, women (feminists), other ethnic groups, et cetera (sp?) are always whining. They get offended by things like jokes and stereotypes (toughen up people) yet people tell fat jokes all the time and all the fat people rarely complain. I just found that interesting. But I do think people should either lighten up or toughen up. What ever happened to "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me".

PC has gone WAY too far.

"Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will make me call my lawyer," is more like it.

It all comes back to the money the lawyers want. They've created a world of victims, where there are actually very few. And we're buying into it!

One aspect of the "victims-r-us" mentality: The Americans With Disabilites Act was said to protect 92 million people in the US. A full 1/3 of our population is disabled???? Funny, not everywhere I look. Do we have full states that are disabled or something? Everything is turning into a "disease" and people need to be "treated". That's just one facet of the issue.

The Constitution says "pursuit of happiness", not a guarantee of never ever hearing something that bothers you--actually, the First Amendment rather guarantees you'll be hearing something you won't like.

We've degenerated into a country of whining children. With the power to bankrupt other people.

Well you're damn right.

PC... now there's a subject. Like all things, it's a good thing in moderation. Most reasonable people now days are not racist, and possess a certain amount of sensibilities and that's a good thing.

It can go too far tho. A banks installs metal detection devices it one of its branches in a high crime neighborhood is accosted as being "insensitive" to the community. Yes, it's better if they had closed that branch, to prevent possible robberies.

An advertisement by the Tennessee Department of Health urged people to "try baking your chicken, eating a fresh tossed salad on the side and scrumptious watermelon for dessert." was accused of being racist because they mentioned watermelon.

European Union officials did a study on rising anti-semitism violence. The study found that a large portion was perpetrated by young muslim men from North Africa and Asia. The study had to be rewritten to show instead that "The largest group of the perpetrators of anti-Semitic activities appears to be young, disaffected white Europeans." despite evidence that only 9% of the cases in France (e.g.) were caused by traditional, neo-Nazi-like groups.

It seems to me that most people who get offended by sexist/racist/religious jokes and stereotypes are those who have no real personality and who's entire identity is wrapped up in their race/sex/orientation/religion. My black friends and I constantly joke back and forth about race, sometimes even argue about it. We are still friends. All the girls I know can take a joke. Even a sexist one. My christian friends know I'm an atheist, and they are still cool with me. The people who always seem to get offended are the professional assholes: Identitiy feminists, Black/white supremicists, Religious bigots, etc.

That is why I call them "injuns".
I guess it's better than dirty red savages.

Feathers are "sacred" so they flipped. I mean come on, it is a feather. Wearing a feather if you aren't a Native American isn't like burning a cross on stage.

Um....why not? If it's something sacred to them, why SHOULDN'T they be allowed to be as offended as Christians would be about someone burning a cross onstage?

Different cultures regard different things as sacred, you know. While I do agree with the idea that some people do get a little overly sensitive, things that deal with another culture's religion strike me as a slightly different situation, because it's a far more fundamentally personal matter than just...I don't know, the way people dress or what the national food is or something.

As an American, it is your right to be offended.

Um....why not? If it's something sacred to them, why SHOULDN'T they be allowed to be as offended as Christians would be about someone burning a cross onstage?

Different cultures regard different things as sacred, you know. While I do agree with the idea that some people do get a little overly sensitive, things that deal with another culture's religion strike me as a slightly different situation, because it's a far more fundamentally personal matter than just...I don't know, the way people dress or what the national food is or something.

Yeah, but I think they sued. I think a national apology from the network at the most should have been what they asked for. I know people are offended by different things but you shouldn't flip out everytime you are offended. Do you want to know what I do when someone offends me? I ignore it. It doesn't bother me if I just tune it all out and forget about it. And now I'm even thinking that our world isn't getting more sensitive, it's getting more greedy. What are a lot of lawsuits for? Money. Society is beginning to make me sick.