Political Correctness Poll

[bryant69]

Running a series of articles at my website (http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com ) on political correctness (well only one so far), and I thought I would ask how people on here felt about political correctness.

Specifically, how do you see the concept of political correctness?

To answer the obvious question, I'm talking about your specific interpretation of the word; of course I understand that the term is used to mean a number of different things, some of which you might disagree with and some of you might agree with. Pick the definition you think is the most accurate, and disagree or agree with that.

[leftyandproud]

1. PC is a term used by right wingers..

I guarantee if you described what it actually is...sensitivity and respect for minorities..you'd get a very different response.

[robbedvoter]

4. Correct. Think tanks casting us as the rule setters and the wingnutz

the carefree ofenders... It culminated last years with memes such: "conservatives are the ones having fun"

[bryant69]

6. I would agree

That's sort of my argument; that political correctness the term is just a club for Conservatives to pound into us with.

[BurtWorm]

7. It's actually a perversion of the original PC, which a leftist term

in use in the 1970s. Leftists used it to make fun of other leftists who were overly earnest. That's how I remember it being used, as self-satire, as in, "Can I bring Pepsi to the Young Spartacist's Pot Luck, or is that not PC enough?" I think it was orignally originally used during the Cultural Reevolution in China.

[bryant69]

10. That's the way I've heard it to.

I'm doing some research on it for the website, and I've heard a couple of alternative theories--but that's the one that makes the most sense to me.

[gayrebel83]

11. This is true...

Political correctness is something conservatives cry when they behave like oppressive bigots and get called such.

[Walt Starr]

2. IMO, "political correctness" includes patriotic correctness

not to mention religious correctness.

[enki23]

3. what meaning does that poll have, when there's nothing in it...

to tie the definition i have in my head with how i view it? holy covariance batman. this is silly.

[bryant69]

5. Hmmmmm.

I don't really understand your objection. You make the link yourself, I think. If your definition of political correctness makes the concept seem negative to you, than vote that way--and contriwise if your definition of it is positive, than vote that way.

But perhaps I don't understand your question.

[rucky]

8. it's common courtesy - terms of preference

as a white male, i'm not really in a position to decide what's offensive to minorities. how tough is it to just use the terms they're most comfortable with?

[bryant69]

9. THat's how I usually look at it.

The trouble is when talking about uncomfortable ideas--where do you draw the line?

[Selwynn]

12. The right wing myth of the "PC police"

The derogatory comments about the "PC police" or other pejorative terms are basically right wing tactics to undermine a rightful sensitivity about how our language and rhetoric affects others.

It is absolutely right that we choose to care about what kinds of terms we use and how we use them, and that we ask intelligent questions about how our use of terms affects others. Very few people out there who raise questions about "inappropriate" language are trying to establish absolute rules and hand out citations to violators. Most folks, like many here at DU are simply stating that truth that in a world where we embrace, rather than shun away from, social, racial, and religious diversity we have an obligation to care about how our words affect others. It is a hallmark of compassionate conviction and progressive ideology to strive to promote the most equitable and inclusive society possible, and part of that process is understanding the way language has been used as a hurtful weapon in the past and strive not to repeat such hurtful patterns in the future.

Our self-proclaimed "right" to say whatever we want really ought to be tempered with a healthy does of concern of the sustaining and maintaining of healthy, empowering, esteeming relationships with others. And in order to do that, sometimes we have to ask significant questions about the words we use and the assumptions we make. Just the other day I didn't take a thread on the term "redneck" seriously enough, because here in my context most of those I stand in relationship to use the term for themselves, and are not offended by it. But many other people are and I quickly found myself on the defensive for acting like its not a big deal. It is not a big deal in my context - but that's just the thing, its all about context, and therefore we shouldn't become indignant when we are called on to think about the most appropriate ways to manifest a spirit of inclusiveness and acceptance in society.

The right frequently displays a strong disdain toward any call to responsibility. The cheapen and diminish the seriousness of thinking about the quality of our words by labeling anyone concerned with such issues as "politically correctness Nazis" or some other kind of label. In truth, there is no such thing as "political correctness" other than what the right wing means by it - which is that our concern over the must just and inclusive kinds of language is irrelevant, and only an political construction to be laughed at, mocked and ridiculed.

We should strive to embrace a doctrine of "do no harm" with our words - that would require us to look at different situations contextually and make informed rational relational decisions about the most responsible, affirming, inclusive and empowering way to speak. It is hard to make absolute rules (i.e, saying that in all contexts x word is wrong), however sometimes in group situations it is important to establish an agreed upon standard that reflects needs as best it can and stick to it. A perfect example of this was the recent discussion about a certain term that I won't bother to mention, wherein the administrators asked important questions in trying to determine what policy would be most appropriate for such a large group. It isn't easy, but it is something that should concern us, whether the right wing scoffs and calls it "political correctness" or not.

Sel