Politically incorrect and glad of it ...

[olger]

Back in the mid 90's, my cousin Steve & I were going to get T-shirts that said "Politically incorrect and proud of it." But I had read somewhere that pride wasn't a good thing, so we considered changing the language to "and well pleased with it". Fortunately, we let the idea die, thus sparing ourselves the indignity of standing knee-deep in irony with our new shirts.

However, as time goes on and we keep listening to the old quartets "The Letter-Persons" in our Toyota Prius' while driving to (no not church) "congregational worship" it may just be time to break out the old rant against political correctness (whatever that is).

Political correctness is far more than just silly, constipated speech codes. It is an entire moral outlook and cultural ethos of the political left.

Basically, a person or thing is considered 'politically correct' when it gives positive strokes to the Left's angelic, messianic self-conception.

1. Political correctness is also Factual Incorrectness. A well-used example is calling a blind person 'visually challenged'. The person is not challenged visually, they are INCAPABLE of doing anything visually for Pete's sake! They are blind. By an odd coincidence, those who use such PC terminology are also blind.

2. The passing of blame for certian conditions from those responsible to those who use the 'wrong' words. "I don't need to exercise. Political correctness says that I'm not fat, but that I'm height and weight disproportional. It's not my fault. Now let's go get a super-size Whopper meal (with huge fries)."

Recently, while working at the Air Force Base in Dayton I had the good fortune to ask a tough sergeant what he thought of political correctness. His answer was pleasing to my old fashioned sensibilities "It's a form of censorship practiced by faggots and leftist morons so they don't have to hear any points of view that they don't agree with." I went back to work, still chuckling...

I could go on and on describing what political correctness is, but I'll content myself with the brief observation that what I've written here is 180 degrees opposite to it. I feel better already.

Personal favorites include:

midget = vertically challenged

fat = horizontally challenged

perverted = sexually dysfunctional

alive = temporarily metabolically abled

Negro = African American

Indian = Native American

Anyone from Central America, South America, or the Carribean = Hispanic

body odor = indiscretionary fragrance

dishonest = ethically disoriented

gay = alternative

wrong = differently logical

dead = living impaired

pregnant = parasitically opressed

fired = laid off

poor = financially inept

homeless = residentially flexible

tall = person of height

garbage-man = sanitation engineer

blind = visually challenged

I sign off wishing you a clear road of black asphalt, instead of the fragile eggshell path that most Americans are tiptoeing on. Ps. And drive safely lest the local PolicePerson haul you off to an "involuntary vacation" in a "controlled environment."

gerry

[Woody]

This senior citizen likes this post.

[olger]

:)

[SivartM]

Interesting...

As I hear it, blind and deaf people would prefer to be called blind and death. Some of the items on your list do make more sense, though (but I'm assuming it's made up because nobody would call a dead person "living impaired"; I think the better term is "deceased"), like calling "Indians" "Native Americans" (because... they're not from India...) and "garbage-men" "sanitation engineers" (because "garbage man" brings to mind images of a jolly character built from garbage, with a trash can for a body and broken pipes for arms and legs...).

I think the original idea behind political correctness was to keep socially challenged people from saying stupid things like, "Hey, you're fat!" or making racial slurs (or calling people "faggots" like that nice gentleman in your story). So while people can go overboard with political correctness, I think it's important to not use terms that offend people.

[olger]

I embellished the list somewhat yes, but I didn't use "Blind and Death" for crying out loud.

og out

[Neil D]

Political correctness is far more than just silly, constipated speech codes. It is an entire moral outlook and cultural ethos of the political left.

Basically, a person or thing is considered 'politically correct' when it gives positive strokes to the Left's angelic, messianic self-conception.

Now here is where some drug induced deranged individual got some idea in his head and is making political hay out of it simply because he thinks he can....

In case you are really wondering, and provided some neurons are still firing thru the thick clear gluey stuff that fogs yoour brain, "Political correctness" is NOT a left idea...it came out of a lot of comedy....

[Kountzer]

A euphemism is a substitution with an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the receiver,[1] or to make it less troublesome for the speaker, as in the case of doublespeak. The deployment of euphemisms is a central aspect within the public application of political correctness.

The use of euphemisms was around a long time before the term political correctness was coined.

[Woody]

WOODY

I think the pharse is "senior peron" not "senior citizen"

the reason is not to offend people that are

not citizens

dgrimm60

Yes, but "I" AM a citizen. So, I am not offending myself if I call myself that.

[Bravus]

Like just about anything else, language can be used in smart ways or stupid ways, in ways that build relationships or ways that break them, in ways that obfuscate or in ways that clarify. In my simple view, it's the intentions and effects of language that should be used to judge it, not some arbitrary list of codes.

I do get concerned about the over-use of euphemisms, because the new term for the old problem soon comes to be seen as offensive too, so a new new term must be coined.

Underneath it all, though, I'd be best pleased with my use of language if it was clear, understandable and characterised by kindness, courtesy and consideration toward every individual for whom Jesus died.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Underneath it all, though, I'd be best pleased with my use of language if it was clear, understandable and characterised by kindness, courtesy and consideration toward every individual for whom Jesus died.

We should all aspire to this. God help us to be more like Him in our speech as well as our actions!

[olger]

it's the intentions and effects of language that should be used to judge it, not some arbitrary list of codes.

[Bravus]

You missed my careful weasel words, OG! 'intentions and effects' is a linked phrase, where both bits are important. Something with good intentions and bad effects is still bad.

[olger]

og in

Liberalism is driving on its "good intentions" at 70 mph on the road paved with them.

og out

[Bravus]

Suspect u're right in some (not all) cases...

On the other hand, the reverse formulation "The road to heaven is paved with evil intentions" doesn't quite work.

[olger]

I like dualistic thinking.

g

[olger]

This just in:

Pirate = seafaring entrepreneur.

[Outta Here]

It's good to know there are some people who will not strive to be "politically correct" and instead use language that is full of hate and is hurtful to other individuals. It makes it easier for the rest of us to identify those who are kindness-challenged.

[phkrause]

It's good to know there are some people who will not strive to be "politically correct" and instead use language that is full of hate and is hurtful to other individuals. It makes it easier for the rest of us to identify those who are kindness-challenged.

Good post Aubrey.

pk

[doug yowell]

It's good to know there are some people who will not strive to be "politically correct" and instead use language that is full of hate and is hurtful to other individuals. It makes it easier for the rest of us to identify those who are kindness-challenged.

Yeah, I hate people like that!

[Guest]

You mean the ones who refuse to call a spade a spade no matter what, or the other ones?

[GreatLakesGramma]

I think she's talking about the other ones.

[olger]

"Kindness-challenged" love it.

Your "socially suitable" language is invigorating

Go and do well,

og