Politically Correctness (PC) Culture

[StarShapedGummy]

I feel like PC culture is very relevant in our times and considering it is an extremely hot topic following the US election, I thought we could have some discussion about it.

 

For those who don't know what it is:

 

 

Simply put, it's structuring words in your sentences to be less offensive or not offensive at all to promote perceived equality. It's a form of culture, that when taken to certain extremes, promote censorship of ideas and even the truth.

 

How do you view this culture? (Please try to be respectful of other opinions as this topic could get out of hand)

 

To me, I believe it's entering the "extreme" part of its spectrum in certain areas of life. We can't say a lot of things because it would be deemed offensive, even if it's the truth. I do still believe you should respect one another even if you aren't using PC language as long as you are not just using it to offend someone intentionally.

 

 

[VANTE]

in my opinion, being politically correct =/= not getting to speak your opinion

 

i think it's on balance a good thing. i would never want to hurt someone by carelessly using a word

[Mr. Taxi]

It's the worst.

[shocking blue]

I think socially it's fine, like PC language to not offend someone, if the message can get across just as effectively

 

(but then again, when it comes to people policing each others language it can become too extreme- like if I called someone an idiot and a person was like "no, idiot is an ableist term, use "silly" instead" well it completely changes the tone of what I want to say so :/)

 

I just don't like it in the political sphere (eg. using "collateral damage" for bombing civilians, or something like that). But it's hardly a recent phenomenon 

[Joga]

I think this has become such a tight subject because PC culture really goes against American culture. For Americans, everything is on the table and nothing is "off limits" Look at our favorite shows, Family Guy, South Park, and the trashy Reality shows where everyone is cut throat and generally awful towards one another.

 

And now we've come to a point where people say "hey no you can't say that" or "you can't do that because you're ____" and Americans look up and go "Huh?" Because we have never thought about being offended before. We couldn't even wrap our minds around it because our culture was built on having thick skin and being ready for everything. I think it mostly started in 2012, when Police Brutality was brought to the forefront of our lives and we did wake up and see we weren't progressing as we thought we were. But honestly, in my opinion, we've regressed if anything due to extremists on both sides of the spectrum.

 

So for me, PC isn't good or bad...it just "is". We'll see how long it lasts.

[A Hamster Named Loneliness]

some level of it is good (like not using the r word because of how belittling it is) but some people take it way too far and make me roll my eyes.

[eMopRiNc3ss69x]

careful, people might start calling you a neo-con.

[tearose]

I do feel like people are taking it too far (read: Tumblr)

 

Listen, being respectful towards people with disabilities and such, that's good. It's important to acknowledge those people and listen to what they have to say. For example, I have autism and I appreciate when people don't refer to it as "weirdo down syndrome thing" (Which, yes, I've heard before). It feels belittling. But also, I can't expect everyone to be utterly perfect and knowledgeable and sympathetic. And I feel like... That's what some PC people are expecting out of everyone.

 

You can't expect such correctness, such utterly detailed politically correct rules that are difficult to keep up with. Being respectful is appreciated, but I think some have gone too far. It's basically gotten to the point of hyper-aware censorship. People are mean and ignorant sometimes, and I don't think we should try to change this inevitable fact through virtual censorship. Instead, educating people from childhood about mental disorders, race, disabilities, etc. may be a good starting point. Just stop forcing an agenda, please.

[Solfa]

I've talked about this before, so I'm just copying and pasting my old comment. 

 

I'm an immigrant (and woman, LGBT but this part doesn't matter for what I'm about to say), but I came here old enough to know see somethings Americans don't notice. Don't get me wrong, I prefer this country over my old corrupted one to live in, but there are a few things I miss from my native country.

 

Americans don't notice the way outsiders do, but there is some extreme indoctrination going on because of PC culture that makes me feel so uneasy. Not to say my native country didn't have any form of indoctrination, I'm from a country that uses 'nationalist' as a compliment ffs, I know we are bad in our own special way, but I'm talking about America as an outsider and a citizen now. This is an extreme thought control culture by guilting here that it's just frightening, It's everywhere...There are so many people who try to justify it's existence in order to be accepting of everyone, but it's not that in practice. It makes people reactionary to it and less likely to listen to you. It makes people go through extremes as opposed to finding a middle ground.

 

It's a good country for people like me, and I'm thankful of that, but PC culture needs to die. In idea it seems nice, it's about trying to be accepting of everyone, but in practice has become a means for bulling people into doing things you want them to do. Which is the opposite of being accepting of everyone. 

[sakurahanabira]

I think this has become such a tight subject because PC culture really goes against American culture. For Americans, everything is on the table and nothing is "off limits" Look at our favorite shows, Family Guy, South Park, and the trashy Reality shows where everyone is cut throat and generally awful towards one another.

 

And now we've come to a point where people say "hey no you can't say that" or "you can't do that because you're ____" and Americans look up and go "Huh?" Because we have never thought about being offended before. We couldn't even wrap our minds around it because our culture was built on having thick skin and being ready for everything. I think it mostly started in 2012, when Police Brutality was brought to the forefront of our lives and we did wake up and see we weren't progressing as we thought we were. But honestly, in my opinion, we've regressed if anything due to extremists on both sides of the spectrum.

 

So for me, PC isn't good or bad...it just "is". We'll see how long it lasts.

nah PC culture has been around for a long while now since before 2012 but the matter of police brutality just brought it out even more.

[lovely_me]

I hate it, I hate it so much. 

 

Ppl take it to extrem and toooooo far. I understand with no offering, but ppl cry and go screaming PC by every slight thing. Its rlly forbidden to speak. PC is rlly for me "close yr mouth, shut yr tongue". In rl I can take it to some point (as I don't rlly follow it anyway) but what I can't take, its the political aspect. PC is used as a weapon now. Against everyone who think different as the mass or as the mass media want it to be. It became a knife to hold everyone in line and dare u do a step right or left, they will scream for PC and will make u bad. Again, I get it with the no offering part, but not to this point. I don't like when I have the feeling that someone forbids me my mouth! U can form the words to make less scarp, yet the true is the true no matter how much some try to escape it with standing PC in first line. 

[Joga]

nah PC culture has been around for a long while now since before 2012 but the matter of police brutality just brought it out even more.

nah before people shrugged PC behaviour off as angry surburban moms or tree hugging hippies. it was never in the news.

[Suzy Quatro]

I believe there's a lot of ignorant people regardless of their posture but there's got to be some middle ground between being able to express your ideas while not being unnecessarily rude or disrespectful.

[Sephiroth]

I think socially it's fine, like PC language to not offend someone, if the message can get across just as effectively

 

(but then again, when it comes to people policing each others language it can become too extreme- like if I called someone an idiot and a person was like "no, idiot is an ableist term, use "silly" instead" well it completely changes the tone of what I want to say so :/)

 

I just don't like it in the political sphere (eg. using "collateral damage" for bombing civilians, or something like that). But it's hardly a recent phenomenon 

^^^

[Hosh]

political correctness itself, based on that definition, doesn't seem problematic

of course you should try not to offend people when you speak, that's basic human etiquette

and to a certain extent i think people who are very vocally anti-pc culture tend to just be mad because they want the freedom to be racist, sexist, ableist, transphobic...etc. etc.

however, i also think some people take it to quite an extreme. i go to a very liberal school and yet i always have to word everything so immensely carefully to avoid the chance of offending someone, but you always know someone is going to get offended and take it the wrong way no matter how good your intentions are. it's a pretty exhausting process and super inaccessible to people who maybe aren't as comfortable in their language skills or english isn't their first language, etc. and i think that's an example of taking it too far.

[deobizone]

i really dont like it. in theory. it does not sound bad, like not wanting to offend ppl, but the extremities have gotten to far.

 

 

 

on a personal note, i am very jaded on it, because how PC(?) ppl have aim at my country/people because anti-PC trolls. said trolls are ignorant on our history and only use bad and exaggerated facts to trigger PC people. to be less vague, the last few years, every year on St. Patricks day I'll see article shared on twt/fb or threads RT on twt about educating Irish people on "irish slaves". myself, and every Irish person i talk to of this is uncomfy with anti-pc (american) trolls using this to troll. well, first it's wrong, in past, no irish ppl were not treated nicely in american, indentured servants were mistreated, stereotype as violent/alcoholic, no need apply, etc. but you're ignorant to think for second it compare to slavery or try to belittle "PC" sentiments by bringing up irish history. I've went to several schools in america; most history they teach is american history + the wars. there's euro history, world history, but ireland is glossed over. irish people know our history and dont talk like this trying to prove 'irish slavery' those are ignorant americans trying to prove a point. and i hate that the PC ppls has to make these points on our national holiday when it's just other people using us as a troll mechanism. it's a national day of celebrating our culture, and in more devout families, religious. i'm catholic, i'm not practicing/devout, but i do read the bible, i've worn a cross for most my life & still do. i do join my family is celebrating in both celebrate culture + religion. i'd respect if the extremist anti pc vs pc people kept their war out our day and away from using our name/history as a tool for their narrative. it just annoys me, sorry...i hold this more against the anti-pc that cause this tho, i know the people that make those thread/article @ irish people have good reason and making point, but they direct at wrong ppl on wrong day.

/r

sorry for ranting here, i just really hate this whole PC, anti pc thing

 

 

 

as far as the political stuff goes, and the election...i personally hate how people uses or supports trump bc theyre a cheeky ____ & just wants to piss people off. like i understand the frustration with over-sensitivity these days, but the answer to that is not being a bigot to trigger others for the hell of it. if you have opinion, it should be your opinion tbh not just sayin something to piss someone off, or something to not offend

[Brittany]

It's powerful, very efficient in getting people to do what you want. But it conditions people into being weak.

[nutella]

I am tired of PC culture, it went from being respectful to now everything you say can potentially offend someone. People need to get over it and stop being so sensitive. I think PC culture is a reflection of a ME culture. Lately, everyone is all like ME, ME, ME. 

[JiMiJu]

Every culture has their own form of PC. 

[Guest]

it's annoying. we don't have this in our country

[vocabulary]

There are many people who genuinely speak their opinions but said opinions happen to be politically correct. Of course, there are also people influenced and feel subconscious need to always be politically correct. And there are another group who always try to not be politically correct because they're hipster like that.