Politically correct / politically incorrect - who says?

[JockSporran]

Who is to say what is 'correct' or 'incorrect' politically? We are supposed to be a free democracy.

[rojash]

The Daily Mail mostly - basically anyone who's not a rabid right-wing bigot is accused of being "Politically Correct", which is a catch-all derogatory term for anyone who disagrees with them.

[chakka35]

No-one has that authority. Speaking personally, I alone decide what words I will and won't use, regardless of any daft rules that others make.

[jno]

AnswerBank. Try to use the N word to describe a black person and it will replace it with asterisks. How very dare it.

[heathfield]

These days that could land you in court, Chakka!

[samuel23]

The problem is what was generally acceptable, say 10 years ago, may not be now.
As a rule, anything that belittles someone or causes them affront should not be used in a decent society. I agree that 'political correctness' has gone mad, but if you were mixed heritage (as mixed race people are now supposed to be called) would you be happy being refered to as 'half caste'? Probably not.
Terms often used by school children such as fatty, four eyes, spaz, mong etc (and there are many, much worse, names used in the play ground) will never be eradicated, but as we get older we should strive to better ourselves and refrain from usng such language.
Whether this is deemed as politcal correctness or just common decency is for the individual to decide.
And jno - I have a brother in law that is black, and I can understand why the N word is censored by AB. It is a nasty, empirical word that has no place n todays world.

[123everton]

Samuel, JNO was being ironic.

[mibn2cweus]

I am more likely to use a word or term I am not 'supposed' to use in rebellion against aggressors intent on imposing their control over and appropriating the essential freedoms of responsible individuals. That said, I do have morally derived criteria by which I deem self-regulation/censorship and interpersonal admonishment appropriate. People should not be belittled, judged or condemned based on political, racial, cultural, ethnic, genetic attributes which are not matters of personal choice but are unavoidable inescapable consequences of birth over which they had no control or input into a decision making process.

While I do respect peoples essential right to believe anything they wish it is just as much my right and indeed an obligation not to respect their irrational beliefs especially when their actions subsequent to those beliefs invade or otherwise impinge upon the essential human rights of myself and others. In defense of personal liberty and choice it becomes necessary to distinguish between a persons right to be a fool and holding them accountable for the consequences of their foolishness.

A **** is not a **** because they were born or raised or forced to be a **** but because they willfully and freely choose to act like a ****. Where there is no choice there is no morally equivalent accountability, except in the case of those restricting the freedom to make a rational choice an option.

[mibn2cweus]

Freedom is not dictated through popular opinion. Freedom is manifested by an understanding of what constitutes and acting in the defense of those essential rights necessary to enable and insure individual, personal responsibility as well as the desire and commitment to hold free individuals accountable for the consequences of their actions. Such is the underlying purpose and goal of a sound, self-promoting and rational political system.

The more of us that are taught and understand the meaning of personal freedom and responsibility, the less of us that will end up in prison, whether it be behind bars or the self-imposed incarceration of an incomprehensible guilt. But don�t just take my word for it. Reality is the final arbiter of what is right or wrong as manifested in the happiness and well-being of those who recognise it and choose to conform to and comply with its laws. Check it out.

[Kefalonia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQzI3k39Cfw

THIS is how you deal with the "N" word! Works for me.

[Poppetchops]

Why is everyone so mealy-mouthed ? The word "******" is a derivation of the word "negro" which means "black". It is certainly impolite to use it and we were taught as children not to make personal remarks. My wife is black and she's a much loved girl not a colour, so for goodness sake stop banging on about it, there are more similarities than differences in the human race.