Politically Correct?

[jenky]

The term "white trash" is used often enough, apparently the last acceptable racial slur/stereotype. What is likely to be the next group/minority/lifestyle to undergo political correcting?

[Moog]

Chavscum?

[bernardo]

I have always understood "white trash" to be a socio-economic subgroup of a specific social class, rather than a derogatory description of all white people. Anyway, the next group should be the countryside, and all the redneck swivel-eyed bumpkins who live there.

[jenky]

Bernardo - so why specify a colour?

[Shapeshifter]

I think it is clear that our ability to describe anything, other than in its most euphamistic form, is being taken from us. Why this 'disease' has developed I don't know. We are nurturing future generations with an inability to express humour or to be able to poke fun at each other. This is extremely dangerous. If one takes this trend to its logical development (or as I see it, regression)we will simplify our language to such a degree that it will be prohibited to say, for example, a beautiful tall blonde girl with fine breasts. Instead we may only describe her as a 'female'.

[bernardo]

A colour is specified in the phrase "white trash" because (as I said before) it is only a subgroup rather than an entire class. It does not refer to all white people, nor to all "trash". It is a bit like phrses like "White Van Man" or "Essex Man" or "Worcester Woman". In the American context, it is probably partly to emphasise that there are loads of poor white working class / underclass people, not just the black urban poor in the inner cities. Incidentally, I do not think that the use of the term "white trash" is in any way connected to the over-used and ill-defined term of "political correctness" either in positive or negative contexts.

[jenky]

So the term 'black scum' would be acceptable to you?

[bernardo]

No it wouldn't; nor do I consider the term "white trash" to be acceptable. I was never asked about whether I considered such terms to be acceptable.

[jenky]

Ta - that's kind of what I was getting at. All seems a bit unbalanced and unnecessary to me.

[RogerK]

Not fond of us country folk then Bernardo?

[bernardo]

No indeed - detestation of the countryside is one of my favourite irrational prejudices.

[RogerK]

Well, it doesn't suit everyone (thank god) - I've had relatives visit me from the city and spend most of the week in my nearest Marks and Spencer store - they've got one about 200 yards from their home! I suggested all sorts of places to go but they couldn't see the attraction of anything that wasn't man-made out of concrete with a bar, toilets and fast food. I don't particularly like urban life but I quite enjoy a visit to somewhere like London once or twice a year. Takes all sorts as they say.

[Yinzer]

Perhaps "white" will become "Melanin-Challenged". Nowadays they throw around the term "Caucasian" but only a small percentage are actually from the Caucus Mountains (spelling?) And what's up with "African-American" How about all those white guys born in South Africa, or all those black folks born in Russia? What's wrong with colors? Red and yellow and black and blue and orange. I always had a thing for the grey ones.

[country_boy]

That's cool Bernardo, one less city driver who can't handle the corners and country lanes!

[jimmer]

PC is just a way of thinking about communication. its surprising that people get so upity about it. Language is a powerfull tool but sometimes the use of inappropriate terms can blunt its effectivness or be very offensive. This is particularly the case when one is directly addressing a community. As far as i can tell "white trash" cannot be given the PC treatment because it is simply an insult.

[Pickle]

The 'white trash' term is not acceptable in my book. It comes from the same era as the 'n' word and once meant 'white people that are no better than black people'. If PC gets rid of that kind of thinking then I'm all for it.