Why are people always complaining about political correctness?

[_Jumper_]

"PC" has not stopped bigots like Pat Buchanan, Pat Robertson, and David Duke from spewing their hate. Where is this stifling "evil" thing called political correctness?

[Lindacooks]

1. I've always thought that political correctness

was just good manners. Don't do or say anything that could hurt someone. It's pretty simple.

[_Jumper_]

2. I agree completely

:toast:

[annak110]

6. I too agree with this, if you are "politically correct" you are not

sexist, racist, ageist, and you care about other human beings and their (in this case) Constitutional and human rights.

[MojoKrunch]

9. Which is why the Right has turned the phrase into an negative.

As if being sensitive to these things is *BAD*.

Feh.

Mojo

[eileen_d]

3. That's what I think too

I believe these phrases are basically synonyms for "political correctness" in most cases:

"common courtesy"
"thinking before you speak"
"pulling your head out"

Especially the last one.

[TexasMexican]

4. because its stupid.

I read some article about how some county in California asked the company that they bought thier computers from if they could change the drives on thier computers so that they would say "master" and "slave."

[DUreader]

5. It is an example of the Cons success at sound byte derisiveness

It actually fosters the bigotry

[rumguy]

7. political correctness is stupid in my opinion

for the most part it was crap put out by professors and other academic elites...

questioning something as personal as another person's language is wrong unless it truly is offensive and meant to harm...

mostly it was a way for white liberals to pretend they were in some select circle of consciousness...

[leftofthedial]

8. it's a euphemism

it means, I should be allowed to spew any vile, hate-filled, ignorant bilge I want to spew

BUT

I can dismiss any opposing views by labeling them as "politically correct" nonsense.

[Malva Zebrina]

10. everybody has an issue

it is politically correct to have an issue. :-) It could be that your hat is not politically correct or it could be that you have not kept up with what is politically correct and so blab and blurt it out here on DU in all your naivite. That you do not habor ill will toward anyone, and are merely expressing your opinion in the way that you believe is not harmful, does not count. Do NOT, I reapeat, do NOT ever say anything negative about the ruby throated humming bird or the endangered flying squirrels that are invanding your attic and taking over your house--

[maxanne]

11. people hate political correctness

because they like using insulting terms and don't wish to stop, especially when the terms apply to women.

[arewethereyet]

12. poisining the rest of the population

fringe elements are, well, fringe

[Fescue4u]

13. Cause it stupid, dishonsest and annoying

And everyone who adheres to it is usually a wanker.

[Zero Division]

14. PC has become a term used to attack liberal values...

by associating values, such as equality for minorities, with the negative associations that people hold in their mind when they hear the word "political".

It's another instance of the unfortunate success the Right has had in framing political and social issues using language. For instance, looked at how they've framed GLBT issues: bigotry against GLBT people = "family values", and desire for equality for GLBT people = "political correctness".

[madddog]

15. well,

because we DON'T have a right go go through life without being offended by something occasionally. Get over it. It keeps getting sillier and sillier...as evidenced by the earlier reference to master and slave drive. Jeesus, don't people have more important things to whine about?