Has Political Correctness gone too far?

[bibbouk]

This came up yesterday at work. A guy I work with says that PC should be abolished completely because it's not society's place to tell people how to think or what to say and that PC infringes on freedom of speech.

I didn't say anything to him but it made me wonder if there are others who feel the same way.

I believe that some PC has gone too far such as people getting offended over small things like being called "hearing impaired" over "auditorily (I'm not even sure how you would spell such a word!) challenged."

I actually heard this conversation in the mall one day between a man and woman (I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but they were at the table next to me in the food court) and she was all bent out of shape because one of her friend's boyfriends had called her hearing impaired.

So what do you think? Has Pc gone too far? If so, how do you think it can be stopped? Is there not enough PC in the world?

Your thoughts please.

[scout]

Hell yeah it has gone too far! Everybody has to have a special name or category and if they are not refered to by that name they are offended. We are all hypenated Americans now. European-American, African-American, Asian-American,etc. If I emigrate to Ireland do I become an American-Irish? No, I will just be an ugly American. Most people who refer to themselves as some hyphenated American moniker have never visited that country or continent, cannot speak the language of that country and have no idea of the traditions and customs of their "adopted Heritage".
Auditorily Challenged- that is priceless.

[hairygrump]

This may be a dumb way to look at it, given that I study the art of rhetoric professionally, but here goes...

As far as I'm concerned, anything that makes people more aware of what they say and the fact that their speech has consequences can only be a good thing. It's probably excessive that you can lose your job for the things that you say, but the reality of human interaction is that the words you use will always make people feel something. You shouldn't be a jerk, so you should avoid using words that provoke that reaction. If you don't, it's not unfair for there to be some kind of consequences (not to say "swift and painful justice").

If I'm fat, then sometimes people will say something about me that makes me feel like less of a person. A phrase like "big" doesn't do anything to make me feel less fat, but at least it shows you're making an effort to keep from calling me by a word that (in the culture) has come to mean things like ugly, lazy and stupid. I might be all those things, but why would you want to tell me I was?

It's a tough balance we have to strike. I don't think anybody should lose their job for innocently referring to a guy who can't hear as "deaf," but the reality is that it's not okay to use that word all the time. Speech hurts feelings. You shouldn't want to hurt feelings and if you do, f**k you. Auditorily challenged isn't that hard to say, and if you can't be bothered to say it in situations where doing otherwise would unnecessarily wreck somebody's day, you deserve whatever punking-out you get.

[riderx]

Originally posted by bibbouk
she was all bent out of shape because one of her friend's boyfriends had called her hearing impaired. I will not be the least bit offended if you refer to me as "gearing impaired".

[SSCYCO]

Originally posted by riderx
I will not be the least bit offended if you refer to me as "gearing impaired".

I would be! I should be addressed as "shiftingly challenged".

PC crap has went too far - period.

[hairygrump]

I would be! I should be addressed as "shiftingly challenged".

Please, please...

"Differently cogged." The challenged part of that casts us in such a disadvantaged and subjugated position.

[Divscotty]

Does it matter if I Endo Right or if I Endo Left .

[wooglin]

Originally posted by Divscotty
Does it matter if I Endo Right or if I Endo Left .

An endo down the center would keep everyone happy, though its a delicate balancing act.

Maybe balancing is the wrong word. Not to mention delicate....

[Fergie]

http://mizai.tripod.com/

Well, I'm not saying I agree with all he says, but he makes some good points... Oh yeah, plus he IS Moses.

Overheard in NYC deli, "I don't wear glasses, I'm visually impared" ... Ha Ha

[SSCYCO]

Originally posted by wooglin


An endo down the center would keep everyone happy, though its a delicate balancing act.

Maybe balancing is the wrong word. Not to mention delicate....

"Endo" is a bit harsh, how about "over the frontaly challenged" or "modulationaly front brake impared".

[wooglin]

Originally posted by SSCYCO


"Endo" is a bit harsh, how about "over the frontaly challenged" or "modulationaly front brake impared".

How about "ass over tin cups"? :)

[wooglin]

This one, btw, is not correct. Politically or otherwise.

http://www.bikemag.com/news/reader_crash_1.jpg

(Sorry. Had to be posted.)

[SSCYCO]

I was offended by that pic - he could have at least put his hands out!

[Rotifer]

Oh man, that is ugly beyond belief. Was he unconscious before he hit the ground or something?

[mohaka]

I laughed hard. Kinda felt bad for it too.

[wooglin]

Originally posted by mohaka
I laughed hard. Kinda felt bad for it too.

Ah! We're back on topic I see. If you laugh, and then feel bad about it, chances are you were being politically incorrect.

(Scraped chin, a fat lip, and not a shred of dignity for the hapless "rider")

[SSCYCO]

So if you laugh and don't feel bad - that's OK?

[Rotifer]

I didn't laugh. I clasped my hands behind my back and drove my face into the ground in sympathy. Now let's take a collection that we may buy that man a recumbent.

[SSCYCO]

You tell that christian girl that and your gonna score!

[wooglin]

Originally posted by SSCYCO
So if you laugh and don't feel bad - that's OK?

No. Then you're an insensitive boor. In politically correct circles, that is. :)

[SSCYCO]

Originally posted by wooglin


No. Then you're an insensitive boor. In politically correct circles, that is. :)

I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!

[mohaka]

Originally posted by wooglin


Ah! We're back on topic I see. If you laugh, and then feel bad about it, chances are you were being politically incorrect.

(Scraped chin, a fat lip, and not a shred of dignity for the hapless "rider")

So I was being politically incorrect, is that correct?
Ok fine.
I stand corrected. Politically corrected.:)

[wooglin]

Originally posted by mohaka


I stand corrected. Politically corrected.:)

We PCPs (Politically Correct Personages) prefer the term "indoctrinated".

[mohaka]

I prefer to be intoxicated rather than indoctrinated.

[Shiva]

If you want to see how that guy in that pic got that way, go to the following link, and watch the video.

http://www.mtbzone.com/video/martinfaceplant.html


may have to copy and paste to address bar if it doesn't work, but it's well worth it.

Ouchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Rotifer]

Now that is what I would call trial and error.

[Shiva]

That's one of those clips you don't think you've seen right, replay, and moan aloud again!!!

Shiva

[mohaka]

OOOOOHHHH!
Where was that guy trying to go?
Looks like he was trying to pogo inot a flower bed.
Hope he gets a full face helmet for his birthday.

[Scott G.]

PC has gone a little to far in my view, and created a sensitivity war of semantics. I wonder how people learning English as a second language feel, shish....that must be something.

Personally my experiece comes from being an recovering alcoholic, and while some may say chemically challenged, substance abuser, etc. I'm sorry A L C O H O L I C

No sugar coating here.

[Rotifer]

Actually Scott, I think we would keep within the spirit of the thread by mocking your alcoholism. But I won't. Instead, I'll drink to your recovery! And Angelo, is that a self portrait or Dwight Yoakam?

[mohaka]

(Everyone together)--HI Scott!!!

Originally posted by angelo_caduto86
no...wouldn't dwight have a cowboy hat?

and you may notice that i have changed my pix, but still not dwight

I'm looking for my own dancing banana...a polticially incorrect one

Angelo, I know you're looking for a banana that does a strip-tease with it's peel.--Perv!;)

[Rotifer]

Actually, you could paste in a little coat and make him a flasher.

[Scott G.]

Originally posted by Rotifer
Actually Scott, I think we would keep within the spirit of the thread by mocking your alcoholism. But I won't. Instead, I'll drink to your recovery! And Angelo, is that a self portrait or Dwight Yoakam?

Thanks Rotifer, I do appreciate the sense of humor. Have another one for the fact I just finished my favorite trail WITHOUT USE OF GRANNY for the first time, so I appreciate any celebration you could contribute on my behalf.

[Rotifer]

Thanks for being a good sport Scott and congratulations on spurning granny!

[SSCYCO]

I've seen Rot ride, and he don't need no stinkin granny - as for me - I'm always in my granny, or is it my big ring? I don't know, I just look pretty and pedal.

[Rotifer]

I tried to send some of those pictures to my work address, there is one of Sscyco and I starting the race, but I couldn't hook up to the mail server at home. Darned Outlook.

[SSCYCO]

Originally posted by angelo_caduto86
look pretty....?


hmmmm, must be that parachute training.... :o

Looking pretty - I guess it's subjective.

Rot - you racing this weekend? - I won't be there, I'll be tearing up the roads in California. Did you get in some training with Tom?

[Rotifer]

Tom and I are getting together tonight, to bad you won't be there this weekend. Going to try to go over to Interbike?

[SSCYCO]

I've got three "possibly"s for tickets, so if one of those works out I'll be there.

[Rotifer]

Cool, I just got an e-mail from Rocky Mountain... I'll take you next year Sscyco. :)

[SSCYCO]

Rot, a week after this Sun. you'll have to set some time aside after the race - I gotta pick your brain about the shop - beers on me.

[Rotifer]

Cool, sounds good. I was quite the curiosity at the park tonight, people couldn't figure out why I suddenly leaped off my bike and put it to my shoulder.

You have to make that fez wild enough that you can't be mistaken for a shriner.

[steevo]

"PC" seems to be a general term that people use to resist the world
changing around them. How many people here still refer to blacks as "colored?" Anybody? I still call them blacks, and Im sure my children (god forbid i have them) will call them "African American" or something else. It is a change, it will happen with or without you. You can ignore it, but at some point you will be socially inept or offensive (like my gramps who called japanese "jappers" up until a few years ago.)

Not caring is one thing, and gradually you will change with everybody else, you will assimilate, but you will not be at the front of the movement.

To not change yourself purposely, and to be offensive or "in your face" is just reactionary and stubborn. Accept change that people strive for, they work hard for it, and even if you dont, you should respect what they desire.

It's more than words...