Political Correctness V2.0?

[sp1814]

What are your thoughts on the idea that political correctness has now been joined by popularist correctness?

This article posits that 'the Right' are now as rabid in their condemnation of anything and anyone with ideas that run counter to what they believe as 'the Left':

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/19/populist-correctness-new-pc-culture-trump-america-brexit-britain

For every accusation that 'the Left' makes (racist, sexist, homophobic') we now have a new list from 'the Right' ('leftie luvvie', 'snowflake', 'metropolitan elitist').

Does this position have merit?

Are those on so-called 'Right' equally as guilty of trying to stifle debate as those on 'the Left'?

[mushroom25]

"populist correctness" doesn't really mean anything. Political correctness implies that something is mis-described because it's the "political" thing to do; it has come to symbolize left leaning thinking. but describing lies as "alternative facts" is just as politically correct as suggesting that calling a chalkboard "black" is inherently racist.

[woofgang]

I think you will find idiots everywhere who will love finding new hooks to hang their idiocy on. I think there are people of all political shades who are incapable of having a factual and adult discussion and who therefore resort to name calling.

[sp1814]

mushroom25

And apparently 'lying through ones teeth' is now 'mid-speaking'.

[-Talbot-]

I could have been posting what I'm having for tea instead of reading that utter botox.

[anotheoldgit]

Answer removed after only 4 posts, there's political correctness for you.

[mushroom25]

mmm I wonder why that was removed? is it against Site Rules to criticize the guardian?

[-Talbot-]

Well that is the most bizarre removal of one of my posts ever.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Does this position have
merit? ///

Yes why not? the 'right thinkers' have had to take on board these leftie insults for far too long.

It is just a pity that we have now had to sink down to their level, but it seems it is the only the type of language that they know.

[ludwig]

To some extent yes. I suppose the difference is though that accusations of racism, sexism, homophobia are quite serious. There are criminal offences associated with these attitudes after all, but no equivalent ones such as 'Luvviness aggravated sanctimonious pontification'. Incorrectly labelling someone a racist is therefore a dirtier trick to play in the debate stifling game as you're accusing the target of immorality rather than just being an elitist twit or whatever.

[sp1814]

To expand a little - it's not just language that the issue...it's also the willingness to be offended by anything that doesn't chime with one's own views. I'm thinking of the recent campaign by One Million Moms (US conservative values family pressure group) to boycott Taco Bell, because the tag line in their latest ad read:

"Mornings are hell"

And the Netflix subscribers who cancelled their accounts because of the airing of 'Dear White People'.

It means that 'snowflake' should now really be directed at the 'Right' as well as the 'Left', surely?

[naomi24]

‘Right’ thinkers – and right thinkers – don’t set much store by what the Guardian spins. Utter nonsense.

[sp1814]

ludwig

Totally see your point on the difference, but the similarities still exist - each set of terms are a way of shutting down debate.

The moment you dismiss someone as a a 'left luvvie' or a 'knuckledragger', you're saying, "Your views are worthless because your mindset doesn't allow you to engage."

[Jackdaw33]

The phrase, 'Wouldn't wipe my **** on it' springs to mind.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

Who are the ones who take to the streets in violent protests? not the right.

Take those who disagreed with the referendum result, and even against the winner of the President of the USA vote, even though they lived in the UK.

[sp1814]

AOG

Almost exclusively 'the Left', but those protests are only part of the story - if you have a look at the Guardian piece, it relates to 'the Right' being as easy to offend as 'the Left' and/or liberals.

It looks like a mirror image of PC (but fortunately sharing the same initials).

Think about the furore over Cadbury selling chocolate eggs, rather than Easter eggs:

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/654515/Cracked-manufacturers-egg-drop-easter-chocolate-packaging-Christian

[ToraToraTora]

"stifling of debate"? Indeed that is how we got here, the name calling from the liberal elite, the sneering , "you must be morons" if you don't hold the "correct" view on any given subject. Yep that's how we got brexit, Trump etc. We've had enough of all the silliness from the Liberal elite thinkers. The pendulum will swing a long way yet.

[sp1814]

TTT

Is this where the word 'snowflake' originated from?

[mushroom25]

SP, the word "snowflake" in the context of youth that has an inflated sense of its own uniqueness, was coined by Chuck Palahniuk in his book, Fight Club.

[Togo]

The lib luvs have been dishing the dirt for decades, now they are getting it back it is beyond the pale. Ah bless. Lessons have indeed been learnt.

[whiskeryron]

Political Correctness should be banned because I don't agree with it.