Can Language Survive Political Correctness?
Myrmidonisia
15-01-2005, 19:16
Seems like everywhere you go, someone is offended by a word that was okay a few days ago. I thought that Teddy Bears were pretty silly, but certainly inoffensive. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company has now crossed the line. Now, they have offended mental health advocates with their ad campaign and the phrase "Crazy for You" (http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050114/NEWS/501140348/1003/NEWS02) .
Is this offensive to anyone but the most sensitive nutcase out there?
Dressed in a white straitjacket embroidered with a red heart, this Bear is a great gift for someone you're crazy about. He even comes with a "Commitment Report" stating "Can't Eat, Can't Sleep, My Heart's Racing. Diagnosis--Crazy for You!" Trust us. She'll go nuts over this Bear!
Has Howard Dean joined the company?
BlatantSillyness
15-01-2005, 19:17
The term "political correctness" has been deemed to be offensive- from now on you should use the accepted phrase "accuracy challenged"
Superpower07
15-01-2005, 19:18
I hate Political Correctness.
It is the Newspeak of our world
I hate Political Correctness.
It is the Newspeak of our world
It's true.
My personal opinion is that if you find what I'm saying/doing/wearing offensive, go somewhere else and don't listen to/look at me! It's that simple. If your offended, get lost. Now I understand if something is out in the market that it should be somewhat unoffensive, but come on! Suck it up and deal with it that people have different tastes than you. [/rant]
Alien Born
15-01-2005, 19:38
Political correctness derives from the slightly nutty idea that our beliefs and attitudes derive from our language use. If we change our language we will change our attitude. Humm, I don't think so. All that PC has managed to do is to make saying what you think impossible, without falling foul of the thought police. I am an immigrant in the country where I live, and it is normal for the locals here to call immigrants, from Europe anyway, Gringos. (No it does not mean the same as it does in Mexico) I am proud to be a gringo, after all, I am an immigrant, it does not demean me in any way to describe me as what I am. If outlawed words were as demeaning as the PC dogooders argue, then they would not be used within the communities that they are supposed to be demeaning to. Now many "afro-americans" use the word "niggah" amongst themselves. It is just an identification.
To remove racism completely, you have to change human nature altogether, and this is not going to happen. Racism is simply the result of distrust and fear of anything that is different to you. Calling blacks, black, colored, african-americans, niggers or whatever, still identifies them as diferent to the white man using the term. Therefor the term does not matter, the placing of the other in the category of different and hence dangerous has occured before the linguistic aspect takes place.
PC is inconvenient and founded on false ideas.
What I am not saying is that certain groups have not been and are not being discriminated against. I am simply saying the solution does not lie in changing the name by which that group is referred to by others. :)
La Terra di Liberta
15-01-2005, 19:40
Honestly, people are too easily offended now. They're always saying this is offensive or racist or whatever but honestly, I don't think it is. Political Correctness has gone too far.
Pure Metal
15-01-2005, 19:40
Seems like everywhere you go, someone is offended by a word that was okay a few days ago. I thought that Teddy Bears were pretty silly, but certainly inoffensive. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company has now crossed the line. Now, they have offended mental health advocates with their ad campaign and the phrase "Crazy for You" (http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050114/NEWS/501140348/1003/NEWS02) .
Is this offensive to anyone but the most sensitive nutcase out there?
Has Howard Dean joined the company?
i dont think its political correctness thats the problem. its every wanker out there (certainly in the states) looking for something to sue about. sure is a quick way of making a lot of money...
Bittereinder
15-01-2005, 19:43
The problem is, people who advocate PC show that THEY are the ones that are bigoted. Minorities RARELY complain about something like Jar-Jar Binks, it is mostly white people. Anyone who sees in Jar-Jar Binks a black stereotype is a racist. No normal person would view a bizarre amphibious alien with a speech impediment, mental retardation, clumsy gait, and bizarre mannerisms as a strike at black people.
thank god there is someone else out there that doesn't think that Jar Jar was a racist character. and I agree, PC had gone too far, or couse, I think the very fact that it ever existed is going too far, but it's a littel late for that, eh?
BlatantSillyness
15-01-2005, 19:51
thank god there is someone else out there that doesn't think that Jar Jar was a racist character. and I agree, PC had gone too far, or couse, I think the very fact that it ever existed is going too far, but it's a littel late for that, eh?
I dont personally think Jar Jar was racist, However saying he was a racist character was just another reason to bash him, cos lets face it racist or not, he sucked ass. ;)
politically correct is a pathetic thing the American government made to limit the freedom of speech. Anyway how can someone find a word offensive. No words can hurt and the people that are offended are pathetically weak and are looking for a quick buck by suing the person.
The thing is that the people who whine about PC all the time are the same people who get really offended at stuff like when Prince Harry dressed as a Nazi for the fancy dress party.
For example, The Daily Mail is constantly ranting on about how it should be acceptable to say '******' or whatever the cowardly morons want to do, yet went on a massive rant about how bad it was for Harry to do that. Hypocritical?
I've never heard anyone say "political correctness is awesome" (or more accuratelt "political correctness is doubleplusgood"). Who are these people advocating it?
Alien Born
15-01-2005, 20:34
I've never heard anyone say "political correctness is awesome" (or more accuratelt "political correctness is doubleplusgood"). Who are these people advocating it?
As far as I can make out, left of center educationalists. People who think they are helping.
Andaluciae
15-01-2005, 20:34
I've never heard anyone say "political correctness is awesome" (or more accuratelt "political correctness is doubleplusgood"). Who are these people advocating it?
Ever been to tolerance training at work? Ever had a schoolwide "tolerance workshop?" Ever stumbled across a tolerance manual? That's where it's being advocated. And middle school teachers as well.
Jorge Boosh
15-01-2005, 20:36
The thing is that the people who whine about PC all the time are the same people who get really offended at stuff like when Prince Harry dressed as a Nazi for the fancy dress party.
For example, The Daily Mail is constantly ranting on about how it should be acceptable to say '******' or whatever the cowardly morons want to do, yet went on a massive rant about how bad it was for Harry to do that. Hypocritical?
Harry is an idiot so we can't blame him for making a dumb choice like that. It's more that you know going around with a swastika on your arm is gonna attract negative attention, so just don't do it.