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Political Correctness

Is Political Correctness Real

  • Yes

    Votes: 82 82.8%

  • No

    Votes: 8 8.1%

  • Other

    Votes: 9 9.1%
  • Total voters
    99
BrewerBob said:
Yes. But most people don't know any better.
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IS using the term retarded when discussing a situation... like, that is retarded, offensive?
 
Bodhisattva said:
Is using the term 'retarded' to describe a mentally challenged person rude?
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it really depends, many people still us "mentally retarded" even at the local special Olympics and back in the day that was absolutely the PC term by definition

the slur is "retard" and that is actually a slur against non-mentally retarded people when suggesting they are mentally retarded. But now the slur has and over PC has spread and some people find any of it offensive. Heck at the health center by my house there was a kid named Cory there and thats how he introduced himself. Hi my name is Corey and im mentally retarded" . . .great kid :shrug:
 
Bodhisattva said:
IS using the term retarded when discussing a situation... like, that is retarded, offensive?
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This word really is in a category all its own and I will explain why. My familiarity with the subject is due to me having a younger brother who has cerebral palsy. He has an IQ around 70, has an emotional maturity level of around a 10 year old, and is heavily active in the Special Olympics and the Arc.

He has a job he loves and he has at least 20 times as many friends as I have. And frankly, he is a better man than I am.

As well adjusted as he is, the word "retarded" still makes him cry. When he was a child he was picked on ALL the time. I was two years older than him and I was getting in fights on a weekly basis with those who would bully him. Kids can be viscious. My brother has an incredible memory. He can tell you the jersey number of every single football player in the NFL. He can also remember every insult he ever received.

Most adults who use the word retard or retarded would never dream of using it to insult someone with an actual developmental disability. But here is the difference between them and other minority groups. Many people with developmental disabilities don't have the emotional maturity to discern the intent behind the use. When many of them hear the word they are just reminded of the hell they went through growing up.

So I would personally ask people to think twice when using the word around people you don't know. If my brother was standing behind you in a line you would not be able to tell he was different until you actually spoke to him. So odds are you would t notice him when you jokingly told your friend "Dude, that movie was so retarded". And you likely wouldn't notice when the large man behind you wiped a tear from his eyes as he started reliving all the times he was laughed at and called retarded.
 
BrewerBob said:
This word really is in a category all its own and I will explain why. My familiarity with the subject is due to me having a younger brother who has cerebral palsy. He has an IQ around 70, has an emotional maturity level of around a 10 year old, and is heavily active in the Special Olympics and the Arc.

He has a job he loves and he has at least 20 times as many friends as I have. And frankly, he is a better man than I am.

As well adjusted as he is, the word "retarded" still makes him cry. When he was a child he was picked on ALL the time. I was two years older than him and I was getting in fights on a weekly basis with those who would bully him. Kids can be viscious. My brother has an incredible memory. He can tell you the jersey number of every single football player in the NFL. He can also remember every insult he ever received.

Most adults who use the word retard or retarded would never dream of using it to insult someone with an actual developmental disability. But here is the difference between them and other minority groups. Many people with developmental disabilities don't have the emotional maturity to discern the intent behind the use. When many of them hear the word they are just reminded of the hell they went through growing up.

So I would personally ask people to think twice when using the word around people you don't know. If my brother was standing behind you in a line you would not be able to tell he was different until you actually spoke to him. So odds are you would t notice him when you jokingly told your friend "Dude, that movie was so retarded". And you likely wouldn't notice when the large man behind you wiped a tear from his eyes as he started reliving all the times he was laughed at and called retarded.
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Very effectively communicated! Thank you for that insight.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Real or not... some think it isn't and they are generally the ones guilty of being Politically Correct. :lol:

Thoughts....
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Yes, it's real, and sometimes it's good.

Yes, there are places where we as a society tend to continue to use bigoted and hurtful language, and yes, changing the way we speak does help change the way we think. Any psychologist will tell the the affect behaviour and developing new habits has on re-wiring the brain. It's the basis of the most effective methods of self-change.

Yes, it can also be over-done and stop us from having meaningful and emotionally honest conversations about issues that are frankly just not simple. It can also be used as a tool to further a harmful agenda, even while it may at first blush seem like an improvement to some people, stunting us intellectually from addressing the real issue.

PC is real and as positive as the person using it.
 
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Yup it exists. It's there to make sure all the special snowflakes don't get their little feelings hurt. Ef 'em.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Sometimes but not always and not even generally. I was told by an African American lady that using the term black was racist and in the same conversation I was told by a black woman that using the term African American was racist because she was "black" :lol: Seriously... Not even I could make that **** up.
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Two people had different opinions. News at nine.
 
PC is a dreadful non-issue brought up by SJWs that doesn't have any real world implications 90% of the time and is then exaggerated by the right as something they feel they need to fight. The most boneheaded debates in existence are ones over political correctness.
 
Moon said:
PC is just a transitional phase until we get to Newspeak.
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I think we are well into the beginning of Newspeak.
Luftwaffe said:
Yes and it's a disease.
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Most certainly. A disease of the weak of mind, if you ask me.
Bodhisattva said:
True... but it is a way to curb Free Speach too, right?
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This too is already being seen as part and parcel of this BS PC crap.
AGENT J said:
does the term African america exist? then yes its real

now dont get me wrong PC most certainly has its rightful place but like many things people find ways to abuse it and use it for personal gain one way or another.

As a politician (and some job settings maybe) i totally get using African american but in real life that is not needed at all. For example if me and you were at the mall Bodhi and you said hey I like that guys hat and I asked what guy and you said him right there, that African american. i laugh at you and punch you in the arm for being stupid LOL
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Meh. We can agree that many are abusing PC for their own gain. How much PC is reasonable / acceptable, I'm leaning to the very minimal. I have a feel that you are not.

ThePlayDrive said:
Political correctness is the term rude narcissists use to describe manners.
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Perhaps at it's inception, but certainly not how it's being used now a days, as a cudgel to suppress any speech, ideas or thought that don't comply with and toe the PC ideological line - so much for this illusion of tolerance for other ideas and other opinions.
 
Bodhisattva said:
True... but it is a way to curb Free Speach too, right?
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No, it's just the notion that people should the treated with respect, even if they are a minority, foreign, or traditionally lack power. Sometimes it's taken to extremes and sometimes people disagree on what is or is not respectful, but the core idea is about treating people well.

eohrnberger said:
Perhaps at it's inception, but certainly not how it's being used now a days, as a cudgel to suppress any speech, ideas or thought that don't comply with and toe the PC ideological line - so much for this illusion of tolerance for other ideas and other opinions.
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No, it isn't. You just want to disrespect and suppress people for being different from you.

Seriously, give us an example of something you can't say because of this horrible PC conspiracy. I'll bet that it's either incredibly nasty, or you actually can say it. And, of course, facing social repercussions for saying something cruel and nasty is just part of living in a society where we aren't forced to all be the same.
 
eohrnberger said:
Meh. We can agree that many are abusing PC for their own gain. How much PC is reasonable / acceptable, I'm leaning to the very minimal. I have a feel that you are not.
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any your feelings would be wrong as usual
 
IMO there is a fine line between being rude, being insensitive, being unkind, being cruel, and being politically correct though at times all can be interrelated. Saying something is 'retarded' in the presence of mentally challenged person is at most unkind and insensitive and can be cruel if we KNOW it is in the presence of somebody mentally challenged, but it is not politically incorrect. It is something that thoughtful or kind people will not do if there is any chance that the word could hurt somebody, however.

It becomes politically incorrect when somebody demands that use of the word 'retarded' HAS to be a put down of the mentally challenged and anybody using the term is being hateful toward the mentally challenged.
 
Paschendale said:
No, it's just the notion that people should the treated with respect, even if they are a minority, foreign, or traditionally lack power. Sometimes it's taken to extremes and sometimes people disagree on what is or is not respectful, but the core idea is about treating people well.



No, it isn't. You just want to disrespect and suppress people for being different from you.

Seriously, give us an example of something you can't say because of this horrible PC conspiracy. I'll bet that it's either incredibly nasty, or you actually can say it. And, of course, facing social repercussions for saying something cruel and nasty is just part of living in a society where we aren't forced to all be the same.
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Being politically Correct (Stupid, if you ask me) is going through and re-labelling everything from commonly accepted language and pretty much obscuring what's really going on and what it really is. For example
Aesthetically challenged - Ugly.
Aquatically challenged - Drowning.
Biologically challenged - Dead.
Breasted Human - Babe.
Caucasian Culturally-Disadvantaged - White trash.
Chemically challenged - Drug Addict.
Chemically inconvenienced - Stoned or Drunk.
Chronologically Gifted - Old.
Client of the correctional system - Prisoner.
Cosmetically Different - Ugly.
Cosmetic Saturation - Wears too much makeup.
Domestic engineer - Housewife.
Economically marginalized - Poor.
Environmentally correct human - Dead.
Equal opportunity employee - Bisexual hooker.
Erectionally challenged - Impotent.
Ethnically homogenous area - Ghetto.
Factually unencumbered - Ignorant.
Female gender biased - Prefers women who shave their legs.
Flight attendant - Stewardess.
Follicley independent - Bald.
Geological correction - Earthquake.
Gerontologically advanced - Old.
Gravitationally challenged - Fat
Gravity Resistant - Has breast implants.
Heterosexually Celibate - Frigid.
Horizontally Accessible - Easy.
Horizontally Challenged - Fat.
In orderly transition between career changes - Unemployed.
In recovery - Drunk/junkie
Intellectually impaired - Stupid
Maintenance hole - Man-hole.
Melanin-impoverished - White.
Metabolically underachieving - Gaining Weight.
Metabolically challenged - Dead.
Monetarily challenged - Poor.
Morally challenged - Criminal.
Morally Different - Evil.
Motivationally dispossessed - Lazy.
Non-inhibited Sexual Companion - Kinky.
Non-Traditional Shopper - Shoplifter.
Osmotically challenged - Thirsty.
Outdoor urban dwellers - Homeless.
Parking enforcement adjudicator - Meter maid.
Pectorally Superior - Big Breasts.
People of height - Too tall.
Person of region - Redneck.
Person of substance - Fat.
Petroleum transfer technician - Gas station attendant.
Previously Enjoyed Companion - Whore.
Racially challenged - Butt-white American.
Residentially flexible - Homeless.
Rhythmically challenged - White boy.
Romantically challenged - Single.
Rustically inclined - Redneck.
Sanitation engineer - Garbage man.
Sex care provider - Prostitute.
Sobriety-deprived - Drunk.
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Political Correctness Is Stupid!

Some of the more funny ones. Yeah, maybe an exaggeration and tongue in cheek and I think it's driving the point home.
PC is little more than obscuring commonly held definitions of the realities. Call it for what it is.
 
eohrnberger said:
Being politically Correct (Stupid, if you ask me) is going through and re-labelling everything from commonly accepted language and pretty much obscuring what's really going on and what it really is. For example
Political Correctness Is Stupid!

Some of the more funny ones. Yeah, maybe an exaggeration and tongue in cheek and I think it's driving the point home.
PC is little more than obscuring commonly held definitions of the realities. Call it for what it is.
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It goes far deeper than just relabeling things. It is a dedicated agenda to control people and discipline or, if necessary, destroy those who refuse to conform.

For instance, what do ya'll think about this graphic?

10574291_742552252457683_9052486822310658960_n.jpg
 
eohrnberger said:
Some of the more funny ones. Yeah, maybe an exaggeration and tongue in cheek and I think it's driving the point home.
PC is little more than obscuring commonly held definitions of the realities. Call it for what it is.
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Commonly held definitions like the inferiority of some races, that gays molest children, and the stupidity of women. PC is opposing lies.

AlbqOwl said:
It goes far deeper than just relabeling things. It is a dedicated agenda to control people and discipline or, if necessary, destroy those who refuse to conform.

For instance, what do ya'll think about this graphic?

10574291_742552252457683_9052486822310658960_n.jpg
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Pride is a reaction to being pushed down. No one needs straight pride, because no one has ever been told that being straight is something to be ashamed of. Someone proclaiming that they have straight pride is only demonstrating that they have absolutely no idea about what gays suffer and by acting as if it applies to them as well, diminishes that fight.
 
Gaius46 said:
Yup it exists. It's there to make sure all the special snowflakes don't get their little feelings hurt. Ef 'em.
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I bet you are just the kind of cowboy to walk up to these two and ask if the crip could push his wheelchair back so not to block your view.

508365acaf843.image (2).jpg
 
AlbqOwl said:
It goes far deeper than just relabeling things. It is a dedicated agenda to control people and discipline or, if necessary, destroy those who refuse to conform.

For instance, what do ya'll think about this graphic?

10574291_742552252457683_9052486822310658960_n.jpg
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Indeed. Normal is bad. A normal is applauded, regardless of the damage to self or others, in this upside down, inside out PC mandates.

Paschendale said:
Commonly held definitions like the inferiority of some races, that gays molest children, and the stupidity of women. PC is opposing lies.
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If that's where it ended, I'd be less against it. But that not where PC ends, now is it? PC goes far beyond just that. ANd just when you think they've gone too far, and they'd see the sense to stop, they go that mile further. It's ridiculous bordering on insanity.

It makes me think that the PC proponents are just pushing on every front just to see how far they can get away with it, all along enforcing their 'discipline' or destruction of others who don't hold to the same ideology or opinions.
 
AlbqOwl said:
IMO there is a fine line between being rude, being insensitive, being unkind, being cruel, and being politically correct though at times all can be interrelated. Saying something is 'retarded' in the presence of mentally challenged person is at most unkind and insensitive and can be cruel if we KNOW it is in the presence of somebody mentally challenged, but it is not politically incorrect. It is something that thoughtful or kind people will not do if there is any chance that the word could hurt somebody, however.

It becomes politically incorrect when somebody demands that use of the word 'retarded' HAS to be a put down of the mentally challenged and anybody using the term is being hateful toward the mentally challenged.
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What disingenuous horse****.

This is like saying "please don't use the n-word in front of a black man, because it's got to be offensive to them. Saying it when a black person isn't around is okay, though. And screw anyone who wants me to stop saying it."

But hey, good job being sensitive and all.

I don't impugn the term itself because language and diagnostics for our people has always been interlaced with "objective medical criteria" and prejudice, but I hold no illusions about the sensitivity of the average person in this country. At best they put on a patronizing face to people with disabilities and then when unguarded, unleash the most vile viewpoints possible. When I was first diagnosed with an intellectual disability (later diagnosed correctly with something else), I knew what most of my neighbors thought about people like me and others with other disabilities. The average person was hateful. Even my own relatives displayed that hate. Oh they'd be ashamed of it was in front of the right person, but in safe territory, their vile attitudes would shine through quickly.

Our ability to get an education was mocked and even disdained, our public transportation has always been a joke to the average person, and people with disabilities partaking in sporting events is still practically an unmentionable activity. Hell, I was cornered by my own peers about how unfair it was that I either had the accommodations I did or that people like me were a distraction from their learning. Then I come home and hear it from the adults who didn't know I and my brother were the ones they were talking about.

Ableism is pervasive in American society. Changing terms doesn't systemically change the ideas the American public has about people with disabilities. It's the ideas themselves that create meaning within the term, not vice versa.

Telling people that ableism shouldn't be displayed in front of a disabled person is just a pathetic attempt to hide your own hate.
 
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Bodhisattva said:
retarded. Mentally challenged. Mentally handicapped. Handicapped. Hand-able. Black. African American. American. Etc. It is all bull****.

When others tell you that you are saying things wrong or that saying black instead of African America makes you racist, or a bigot or sexist for other things, things are out of control.

It is a classic Left Wing tactic. Attack the other side. Put them on the defensive and talk about them being a bigot instead of the actual issue. Pathetic.
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But the left wing is getting worse all the time. I'm not one to push books, but I just finished reading The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech by Kirsten Powers and even she, a liberal, has recognized how awful the left is becoming when it comes to free speech.
 
Paschendale said:
Commonly held definitions like the inferiority of some races, that gays molest children, and the stupidity of women. PC is opposing lies.

Pride is a reaction to being pushed down. No one needs straight pride, because no one has ever been told that being straight is something to be ashamed of. Someone proclaiming that they have straight pride is only demonstrating that they have absolutely no idea about what gays suffer and by acting as if it applies to them as well, diminishes that fight.
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And there we have a really glaring example of PC at its finest. :) That is not a criticism of your post or you by the way. But that is definitely the PC talking point.
 
Fiddytree said:
What disingenuous horse****.

This is like saying "please don't use the n-word in front of a black man, because it's got to be offensive to them. Saying it when a black person isn't around is okay, though. And screw anyone who wants me to stop saying it."

But hey, good job being sensitive and all.

I don't impugn the term itself because language and diagnostics for our people has always been interlaced with "objective medical criteria" and prejudice, but I hold no illusions about the sensitivity of the average person in this country. At best they put on a patronizing face to people with disabilities and then when unguarded, unleash the most vile viewpoints possible. When I was first diagnosed with an intellectual disability (later diagnosed correctly with something else), I knew what most of my neighbors thought about people like me and others with other disabilities. The average person was hateful. Even my own relatives displayed that hate. Oh they'd be ashamed of it was in front of the right person, but in safe territory, their vile attitudes would shine through quickly.

Our ability to get an education was mocked and even disdained, our public transportation has always been a joke to the average person, and people with disabilities partaking in sporting events is still practically an unmentionable activity. Hell, I was cornered by my own peers about how unfair it was that I either had the accommodations I did or that people like me were a distraction from their learning. Then I come home and hear it from the adults who didn't know I and my brother were the ones they were talking about.

Ableism is pervasive in American society. Changing terms doesn't systemically change the ideas the American public has about people with disabilities. It's the ideas themselves that create meaning within the term, not vice versa.

Telling people that ableism shouldn't be displayed in front of a disabled person is just a pathetic attempt to hide your own hate.
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Well thanks for the response but you sure used a lot of words to miss the point I intended to make.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Only if the person is really a bigot. I am for immigration laws and for that alone I was called a racist and a bigot. THAT, is retarded PC idiocy...
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You're worse than even that.
Extremist, fanatic, maniac, zealot, chauvinist, die hard, doctrinaire, dogmatist, enthusiast, fiend, monomaniac, partisan, persecutor, puritan, sectarian, segregationist, sexist, stickler, and opinionated person, just to name a few on just the bigotry side of things. Prolly a homophobe too. Maybe even a microbe. Personally, I'm glad the PC Police are here to protect me from this junk.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Real or not... some think it isn't and they are generally the ones guilty of being Politically Correct. :lol:

Thoughts....
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I don't like it. I remember it started with "chairperson" and just kept going, and now the heart's been pulled out of everything. I don;t that most people like it, and I hope it just runs it's course.
 
eohrnberger said:
Being politically Correct (Stupid, if you ask me) is going through and re-labelling everything from commonly accepted language and pretty much obscuring what's really going on and what it really is. For example
Political Correctness Is Stupid!

Some of the more funny ones. Yeah, maybe an exaggeration and tongue in cheek and I think it's driving the point home.
PC is little more than obscuring commonly held definitions of the realities. Call it for what it is.
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Greetings, Erik. :2wave:

I enjoyed reading the list, and I actually learned some new ones! :mrgreen: I did notice there were several examples for "dead," probably to give some latitude on whether you are talking about a person, or an event? "dude, I'm splitting; this party is so dead," versus "George Washington has been dead for a long time." It's nice when you have a choice about how PC you want to be! It's difficult to keep up, though, since they keep adding new ones all the time! How do census takers manage to stay relevant?
 
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