Political Correctness Poll, Pt. 2

[bryant69]

In my second in a series of polls on political correctness, today's question is how politically correct do you consider yourself.

I'm aware that the term "Politically correct" is a vague and ill-defined term; that's only one of many problems with it. But for the purpose of this poll, pick the meaning of the word that you think is the most reasonable.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[robbedvoter]

1. Don't measure myself by wingnut yardsticks.

It's been said to you last time you brought this BS poll here. Think tanks came up with PC to lambast "heart bleeding liberals" and be racists and homophobes with impunity - and somehow portraying it as "cool".
Why you try so hard to sell this on DU - beats me.

[bryant69]

2. Hmmmm

Well the one yesterday was a different focus--but allow me to clarify some points.

* I don't like the way the term political correctness is used by the right to silence liberal voices. While there have probably been some excesses by liberal acedemics and others, they pale in comparison to the silencing of liberal ideas that is embodied in the way the term political correctness is generally used.

* I'm not trying to sell anything on DU, other than my blog I guess. But that's free.

* The fact that a subject doesn't interest you doesn't mean that it shouldn't be discussed; on the contrary the thing that makes Democratic Underground work is that we all have different ideas and interests under a generally progressive umbrella.

[stinkeefresh]

3. truth

The whole idea of "politically correct thought police" is a wingnut strawman designed to give them a way to indirectly defend thier asshole opinions without focusing on the merits of those opinions.

As if telling someone they're an asshole for using certain language is the same as not allowing them to say it. It's not.

[Guaranteed]

18. It's not a strawman.

It's exactly what PC folks are trying to do. You can't deny that.

Basically, the anti-PCers are just calling PC folks assholes for trying to tell them what they can say and can't say.

It's pretty fucking demeaning to be bossed around as if one was a child, don't you think? You don't expect a backlash?

[cprise]

23. Of course the alternative

...to PC social pressure is the conservative tendency to outlaw certain types of expression. Does that seem more fair?

And that's also where Political Incorrectness fails bigtime. Resentment over having to, say, treat people different than you with respect is usually even more shallow than PC itself; It is a massive cop-out.

If you want to avoid the dregs of both PC and PI in our society, try putting yourself in the other person's shows and give some actual thought to being civil and fair.

[cprise]

4. PC is just conservatism with one main difference

PC is defined by trends in popular sentiment. Conservatism is often imposed from 'above.'

Otherwise its about the same as conservatism: It's more rote memorization and sloganeering than it is thoughtful.

Pat Robertson coined the term Political Correctness because a new source for moral standards was emerging in American life that was at odds with the Bible's arbitrary morality.

...and it bothered the sh!t out of him.

There is an upside and downside to PC. Interestingly though, the left and much of the center has begun to refer to typically-PC leftist beliefs as simply "morality".

[Guaranteed]

19. That IS an interesting point. nt

[Guaranteed]

17. Man, what the hell are you talking about?

You know the concept that he's referring to. Are you denying that it exists? Who gives a shit what the word is? Just answer the damned question.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. I don't like political "orthodoxy" of any type. EOM

[bryant69]

6. OK

But what do you mean by Political Orthodoxy?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. Meaning having to adhere to a dogmatic set of beliefs; as in a

religion. No thanks.

I am not a believer in right or left wing orthodoxy.

[bryant69]

11. OK.

I'd agree that that sort of orthodoxy is uncomfortable. However, I'm not sure it's much better if we set our beliefs based on rejecting whatever the supposed orthodoxy is.

What do you think about the other side of this issue, that is avoiding phrases and terms known to be offensive to racial or ethnic or religious groups or genders?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. The very term politically "correct" is offensive to me.

It has become synonymous in America with "not offensive to women, gays or minorities" which I'm all for, but what does politically "correct" mean? It sounds like some kind of Orwellian or Maoist thought control. "Correct thinking." Again, no thank you.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. So what I am saying is, in effect,

I'm FOR what this term has come to represent in America, but I reject the term, the label, itself. Not only does it bother me, but I actually find it quite offensive. I feel that all thinking people should reject this terminology and it would not surprise me in the least to find that some RW zealot foisted this upon us.

[bryant69]

15. Actually that's largely the theory

I'm reviewing the origin of the term at my website ( http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com ); it started as something quite innocent, and then became something of a term of derision on the left during the 60's/70's or so. To refer to someone who bought the Communist/Maoist line a little too closely; but to really see the term pass into common usage, it took the right wing; and their desire to get control over the universities.

Tell me which of these situations is more offensive.

A student expresses a view that, say, welfare doesn't work, and a fellow student subtly calls her a racis, and suggests that she has stepped outside the bounds of good taste.

A student expresses a view that, say, welfare is a necessary safety net, and a fellow student calls her a Politically Correct thug who is just spouting the pc line and unable to think for herself.

To me they are both terrible; they both shut down thought. But I have to say, back in my college days, for every student I saw called a racist or accused of not being politically correct, I saw five or six called politically correct for espousing liberal views.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

16. I don't care what any RWer calls me or thinks of me. I don't

reject the term PC because it is invented or applied by RWers. I reject it because I don't like the language itself, regardless of who uses it. Capiche? I don't think I could possibly express it more clearly than that, so I will leave this thread accordingly.

"And that's all I have to say about that."
Forrest Gump

"I'm THROUGH with you!"
Barbara Bush

[RichardRay]

7. I am unquestionably 100%, perfectly politcally correct

according to my own politics.

[Az]

8. I am aware and can be very politically correct

But sometimes busting the labels open is necissary to get at important ideas.

[Blue_Chill]

9. I'm not politically correct in my opinions but try to be in my word choice

I am aware that people are sensative to certain words, being hispanic I can sympathize with that. I refuse however to allow my views to be swayed by popular opinion.

[SpiralHawk]

14. I'm just plain old correct.

Screw the politics. Just do right, with honesty and respect.

[durutti]

20. There's no such thing.

PC was never anything more than a conservative propaganda device. Almost all of the PC anecdotes are demonstrably false, exagerrated, or taken out of context. I advice you to read The Myth of Political Correctness by John K. Wilson.

[cprise]

22. Denial doesn't become you

Normally you are insightful and pretty realistic.

If shallow, pop-culture morality based on slogans doesn't exist, then what was that last 25 years I just experienced?

Face it, conservatives caught the American Left in a massive dumbing-down trend, and learned to use it to their advantage. GW Bush to this day uses PC sentiments to justify fighting for "liberal democracy" around the world.

[rbnyc]

21. I'm PC in that I try to respect...

...the way people request to be addressed. For example, if a woman of transgender experience tells me she identifies as a woman of transgender experience, that's how I refer to her, instead of calling her a trannie or something else, and I always use female pronouns when referring to her. Or if I'm aware that most people of Asian decent don't like to be called Oriental, I don't call them Oriental.

But I'm not PC in that I love to be crude, I adore porn, in the context of a joke I think some stereotyping is okay, stuff like that.

I think it's too bad that PC has gotten such a bad name, since I think it's inception was motivated by people who wanted to be inclusive, respectful and receptive to differences, which I think are all things we value.