Has Political Correctness Gone Mad?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-4251306/Political-correctness-gone-mad-writes-TREVOR-PHILLIPS.html

[-Talbot-]

Political correctness will reach its summit when a Scotsman is hauled over the coals for calling a Yorkshireman a tight-fisted ***.

[cassa333]

He isn't absolutely right.

And I cannot at this time add anything that he has not already said.

[andy-hughes]

Yes, absolutely.

The pendulum has swung far too far the other way, to a point where reasonable questions and debate are stifled under a welter of 'fear of giving offence'.

I don't believe we should live in a society where actions or inactions are dicated by a 'fear of giving offence' - because clearly, no offence may be taken in the first place.

If offence is (genuinely) taken, then that can be addressed.

No-one died as a result of being offended - people can, and have died as a direct result of action or inaction caused by a fear of giving offence.

It is time society grew up and started treating all it citizens as the adults they are.

[ummmm]

The problem is people being offended on other peoples behalf.

[naomi24]

Political correctness is mad.

[Islay]

PC has gone too far but it should not be used as an excuse to 'say what I want to' some of the rubbish spouted on a daily basis against minorities is just plain wrong.

[andy-hughes]

ummm makes an excellent point - there are far too many people ready to see offence where non exists, on behalf of other people who probably don't require their input anyway.

I think the original concept - hijacked as so many things are by cheap sensationalist tabloid nonsense, including the convenient peg of the term 'political correctness' - was a step forward at a time where consideration and empathy were nothing like as strong in society as they are today.

But it has gone far too far, and even mention of the term produces an instant knee-jerk negative reaction.

[naomi24]

Islay, It should only be used to say what you approve of it saying, then?

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //Islay, It should only be used to say what you approve of it saying, then? //

I am surprised at you - the obstuse misunderstanding of a simple post is usually the domain of others - as is assuming that the poster has said something that he / she clearly has not.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, the misunderstanding is yours, Islay says that political correctness has gone too far – but is apparently happy for it to be used to defend minorities.

[jno]

lol, when did you ever admit that piolitical correctness was sane?

[ummmm]

It's like English, Irish, Scottish jokes. I don't know anyone in real life who has ever been offended by them but someone will act offended on our behalf.

Maybe it's just that the written word doesn't translate so well.

[jlcm]

I gave PC up years ago yes some people take offense at being told the truth either about themselves or what's happening in the world ,the problems for us come from we don't have a constitution that guarantees us free speech ,if the rest of the AB members said what they actually thought we might stand a chance against the lily livered do gooders and get some sort of balance into the country

[andy-hughes]

jlcm - //if the rest of the AB members said what they actually thought we might stand a chance against the lily livered do gooders and get some sort of balance into the country //

I am as big an advocate of free speech as anyone, but, as is usually pointed out in these discussions, and it's usually pointed out by me - free speech is not the same as saying what you want anytime anywhere, to anyone.

I am always mindful of people who say things like "I believe in plain speaking, I don't hold back ..." which simply translates as - I have no filter based on courtesy, due deference, time and place, and I see it as my right to be as offensive as I choose when I think of something to say, I will say it, and that's it.

I am sure no-one would think that is a way to proceed.

We need a balance, where people are on the one hand not frightened to say what they believe for fear of some nebulous concept of 'offence', but on the other hand, we don't have people piling in with unpleasant and unacceptable views simply because they equate holding a view with the right to express it in any terms they choose.

I have always said exactly what I think on here, and would never change that, but I do remain mindful of circumstances, and proper respect - those are the fundamentals society needs in place to ensure its valuable free speech is neither hi-jacked or abused.

[sp1814]

Almost certain that it first went mad about 20 years ago.

But in serious - he raises a good point. Everyone should be free to speak their minds, and once they have spoken, their views should be challenged.

You cannot demolish someone's argument or attempt to change their minds if they cannot speak in the first place.

We are now seeing a mirror image of political correctness, with 'populist correctness', which is just as insidious. I don't think anyone can say anything without a howl of protest, boycotts and name-calling.

This is going to be it for a very long time.

Probably forever.

[sp1814]

When I was growing up, PC meant 'politeness and consideration'.

I still try to practice this.

However, what absolutely disgusts me is how people claim that anything they disagree with is PC.

Yesterday the Met got its first female chief. All of a sudden the usual mob were baying that it was political correctness.

PC now gives licence to the alt-right to denigrate anyone who is not white, straight, male and able-bodied. No matter what the qualifications the person has, if they do not fall into the majority demographic, it's 'PC'.

[ichkeria]

I think there is a lot of unnecessary fuss made about this. Most of us can laugh at certain aspects of "PC-ness" but I am not sure that what Phillips is on about has much to do with being PC. He was criticised by one idiot about his own opinion. But no one is stifling his debate.
He's just having a pop - and in doing so exercising his right to free speech :-)
As for allowing the President of China to address parliament, I doubt if that was a lot to do with PCness either (more "give us your dosh" :-)

[Islay]

Oh Naomi how you like to twist things - I really cannot be bothered to respond to you anymore!

[naomi24]

Islay, I haven't twisted anything - and whether or not you respond to me is your choice.

[Deskdiary]

"I am always mindful of people who say things like "I believe in plain speaking, I don't hold back ..." which simply translates as - I have no filter based on courtesy, due deference, time and place, and I see it as my right to be as offensive as I choose when I think of something to say, I will say it, and that's it."

I like this point made by Andy Hughes, because I have always been of the opinion that when people say "I speak my mind" or similar, they say it as though it is positive character trait and are proud of it, whereas in my view its a character flaw. Speaking one's mind suggests to me somebody who has no tact and is boorish &/or doesn't have the brains to read a situation.