Politically correct or intellectually rude??
Working with the general public, I remind my self that I need to be politically correct all the time!! For instance, instead of describing someone as short, I use "vertically challeneged". It i need to use the word "fat" then I'd say heavy set. Or heavier. When we near holidays, I always stop myself mid sentence and refrain from merry Christmas or happy Chanukah. Instead, I revert to hope you're having a good season!! That's all good. I'm not so bothered by that. But when someone is being blatantly RUDE, how do you stop your self for responding in the same fashion?! I've stopped myself from saying things like "dumb ass!!" And correct it to you mentally challenged donkey. Or you folicly impaired, intuletctually challenged anus of a horse!! 
In all seriousness, it definately takes some one a bit of class and wits to defend them selves in some of these situations. Any examples of when you had to remain professional and use political correctness to defend yourself in akward situations? Please do share!! -this could be amusing and educational all at once.
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I always lower my voice / tone / emotional content when someone is rude, or out of line, instead of raising it. It helps to defuse the situation, and has the added benefit of making the other person look bad. 
It is especially useful in political conversations at Thanksgiving...may not change any minds, but you look reasoned and controlled and they don't.
....used to deride people who care about respectful language usage. I find any of the "challenged" terms to be slightly insulting because it is actually a facetious term that reflects annoyance at calls for "people first" language.
People first language refers to people with disabilities who would rather have their impairment described separate from their identification of a person.
Many prefer to have autism than to be considered "autistic." Most of the person who has schizophrenia would rather not be labelled schizophrenic. After all, we don't refer to people who have cancer as cancerous.
As I have learned from people who are really invested in it, it has made more sense to me.
Short and tall are pretty neutral descriptors. Fat has been commonly used as an insult. I think more neutral language would be heavy set.
I'm always glad to see someone questioning it. It's about respect rather than an imposition of political courtesy.
Thanks for all the insight and feed back!! And I guess I never really stopped to think about the word "challenged" in it's entirety. At how demeaning it can actually come off. I work with special needs children of all varieties and in a little corner store for the extra money and to help make ends meet. I'm constantly faced with people of all up bringings and nationalities, faiths and what not. The only thing I'm ever really sure of is everyone is unique and has their own preferences. No one likes to be labeled. And everyone has a sensitivity to something or other. so, as suggested I have found that the nice smile and a "have a nice day" USUALLY fixes all. But then you have your select few who feel the need to keep pushing. I do realize some may have just had a rough day and I'm the unfortunate one to catch the unintentional reprocution of it. But others just don't feel complete until they have managed to make someone mad. For those, I try not to give them the satisfaction of knowing it worked. But sometimes i just can't help myself.
which I am, I'd think they were mocking me with an air of superiority; or mocking me because they mistakenly think that's how Liberals talk.
Just call me short.
This is my philosophy toward others: If you're going to be rude or miserable, then you'll have to be rude or miserable all by yourself, because I'm just going to go on about my business of being me.
A friend of mine (who knows im trying to teach myself japanese) suggested i tell them:
あんたは綺麗ですよ。
Or
Anata wa kirei desu.
It means "You are very beautiful."
Anyway story time!!!
[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#dcdcdc; padding-bottom:5px; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom:none; border-radius:0.4615em 0.4615em 0em 0em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Zen Buddhist story:[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#f0f0f0; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top:none; border-radius:0em 0em 0.4615em 0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.
One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.
Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior's challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling shamed.
Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him. "How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?"
"If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it," the master replied, "to whom does the gift belong?"
I think this story gives the best response to any insult!
I think your example is better, because yours is based on real life and mine is just a parable.
Loved it, the koans and Japanese Zen tales such as The Strawberry, that went like this:
There was once a man who was being chased by a ferocious tiger across a field.
At the edge of the field there was a cliff. In order to escape the jaws of the tiger, the man caught hold of a vine and swung himself over the edge of the cliff.
Dangling down, he saw, to his dismay, there were more tigers on the ground below him!
And, furthermore, two little mice were gnawing on the vine to which he clung. He knew that at any moment he would fall to certain death.
That's when he noticed a wild strawberry growing on the cliff wall.
Clutching the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other and put it in his mouth.
He never before realized how sweet a strawberry could taste.
Life is like that sometimes.
I don't think I've ever ACTUALLY referred to someone as "vertically challenged". Except my mother and that was said purely in love. 
I'm just using some examples that are more commonly stated. I think in all honesty that some things that are concidered "politically correct" can be more offensive then the actual ailment. And I think the ways words are perceived is orally individual in its self. For example, I'd rather be called fat then squat but ultimately if given a choice, I'd pick over weight. Or heavy. But short is short. I call my mom short as my brothers call ME SHORT. If I were called vertically challenged, I think I'd be pretty ticked off. How ever, working with the general public and special needs children, I will never refer to someone as retarded. Unless I'm using it offensively. "Retard or retarded" down right pisses me off. I think politically correctness is all in the eye of the beholder. What one person sees fit another may disagree. The english language is soooo damn tricky. As is judging or trying to judge someone else's view of it!! -just sayin'-
I would be really bad at a customer service job. I might horrify you. 
Seriously, though, give me someone that speaks up if they hate me over a fake "nice" person any day. At least I know where we're standing.
Point well taken!! honesty is always the best policy. Or at least that's what I was taught.
"Right wing" redirects here. For conservative political thought, see conservatism.
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In politics, right-wing describes an outlook or specific position that seeks to justify social hierarchy or social inequality.[1][2][3][4] Social hierarchy and social inequality is viewed by those affiliated with the Right as either inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable,[2] whether it arises through traditional social differences[5] or from competition in market economies.[6][7] It typically accepts or justifies this position on the basis of natural law or tradition.[4][8][9][10][11]
The political terms Right and Left were coined during the French Revolution (1789–99), and referred to where politicians sat in the French parliament; those who sat to the right of the chair of the parliamentary president were broadly supportive of the institutions of the monarchist Ancien Régime.[12][13][14][15] The original Right in France was formed as a reaction against the Left, and comprised those politicians supporting hierarchy, tradition, and clericalism.[16] The use of the expression la droite (the right) became prominent in France after the restoration of the monarchy in 1815, when le droit was applied to describe the Ultra-royalists.[17] In English-speaking countries it was not until the 20th century that people applied the terms "right" and "left" to their own politics.[18]
From the 1830s to the 1880s, there was a shift in the Western world of social class structure and the economy, moving away from the nobility and mercantilism, and moving towards the bourgeoisie and capitalism.[19] This general economic shift towards capitalism affected centre right movements such as the British Conservative Party that responded by becoming supportive of capitalism.[20]
Although the term 'right-wing' originally designated traditional conservatives and reactionaries, it has also been used to describe classical liberals, Christian democrats, racists, and nationalists.[15]
Just for your info.
She def sounds really smart!! There's not that many times when I've had to discribe someone's physical apperence unless I need to describe them to someone else for what ever reason. For example... A man comes into a store asking if his wife "Judith" had been there. Well after seeing a hundred different people, I'd Never know the difference between "Judith" or "Beth" unless she was described to me by her physical apperence. I.E. she's tall, thin, red hair with a pink strip. Now.. Having seen a bunch of tall, thin, red headed woman the part that's going to stand out to me is the pink strip in her hair. Now if he'd said she extremely thin or above average height, then I think I might have a better idea. this is just a scenario. I've never actually been asked if I'd seen Judith. Lol.