Politically Correct, has it gone too far?
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
November 2, 2006 5:40pm CST
I have always been intolerant of racism, religious persecution or any other form of bigotry, and therefore welcome the eradication of this kind of attitude. However, I feel that the government and authorities are going to the extreme in their campaigns to promote Political Correctness.
I am a resident of the United Kingdom, which has been a multi racial society for some time now and there have been many instances of racial tension and problems. The government introduced laws to try to counter this kind of behaviour and establish harmony throughout the country, but did not seem satisfied with simply outlawing racist behaviour. It soon became illegal to make any reference of nationality such as the telling of Irish jokes or using such terms as black person or negro. No allowance was made for the fact that these actions do not necessarily have to be done offensively.
Before long it became fashionable to jump on the Political Correctness wagon and the whole thing went crazy. On 1st October this year a law was passed making any form of Agism illegal. As a result if one of my work colleagues called me an "Old Fool" they would be breaking the law, despite the fact that I am 57 years old.
Surely it should be sufficient to treat other people with respect and not need to be permanently on your guard in case you inadvertantly use the wrong words. This does not help to promote a harmonious atmosphere in my opinion.
I would welcome input from other members, whether they agree with me or not.
5 people like this
19 responses
@Stiletto (4579)
•
3 Nov 06
I'm from the UK too and yes it has gone too far. The problem with political correctness is that it only deals with what people say - not what they think or feel. It's totally superficial. In my opinion it's the intent behind what you say that matters most.
3 people like this
@sirensanssmile (3764)
• Netherlands
3 Nov 06
I think that forcing people to watch what they say is an effort in vain. Some men (like my grandfather) like to be called an "old fart" he doesn't find it offensive in fact, he has a baseball cap that proclaims it. Good thing he lives no where near UK so that he can continue wearing it with pride.
I was raised to ignore offensive comments and to not react. Therefore people don't offend me, say what you will.... I think that people who work to be constantly PC are trying to appease their own conscience. It bugs the crap out of me that people think it is okay to force their beliefs on another let alone an entire country. That is what it is. Because people are offended, others no longer have the right to express themselves. Yeah it isn't good to hear someone make racist or sexist comments, but they are representing themselves with this expression. Like it or not, you know what sort of person this is now and you can avoid them. With a law forcing people.... they are still going to say it. The feelings still exist, nothing has changed about them personally.
3 people like this
@RieRie (820)
•
4 Nov 06
I actually think the agism thing is one of the good things the government have come up with, so now it's easier for me to get a job because everyone should get equal pay whether they're 16 or 80, so people won't employ kids anymore because they're no longer cheap labour, however they will employ immigrants,so until that problem is solved I still don't have much chance of a job. I do agree that political correctness has gone so far that the government are being racist towards English people and people who came here years ago and have families and actually pay taxes.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Nov 06
The agism factor can be a good one because I could change my job easier than I could have previously. I am 57 years old, which used to be a disadvantage, but now companies will want to employ older people to show that they are not agist.
The problem is that any reference to age could be construed as agist, so soon it will be wrong to tell jokes about "a little old lady" and so forth.
2 people like this
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
4 Nov 06
I don't like racism, bigotry or anything like that, but I believe that trying to be politically correct has gotten way out of line. You can't legislate morality and actions still speak louder than words. Whatever happened to respecting others without a law telling you to do it? I really enjoyed watching Politically Incorrect and wish it was still on the air. LOL.
2 people like this
@wrcurtisjr (376)
• United States
3 Nov 06
In all the Democratic countries it's become that. I agree. And worse off they contradict themselves days later to make someone else happier elesewhere. Frankly it's appalling.
@wrcurtisjr (376)
• United States
3 Nov 06
I am from the United States and love the country I'm from and would never want to leave, but I think it needs to be groundbreaking...a politician who comes in and doesn't pound on his oppenants integrity and tells the truth about the way things are.
2 people like this
@joelabew (181)
• Ghana
14 Nov 06
I'm from the UK too and yes it has gone too far. The problem with political correctness is that it only deals with what people say - not what they think or feel. It's totally superficial. In my opinion it's the intent behind what you say that matters most.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
13 Nov 06
I read an article about this, whcih seemed to say, charges on what people speak was getting to be commonplace.. I think freedom of speech is more important than everybody speaking the same..
- I also am of the opinion that political correctness can be downright bigoted! If you don't think 'correctly' according to (who?) you're unacceptable. I don't agree with everyone on every issue, and don't believe I should have to! Why is the concerns of one party of folks so much more important than the concerns of another? And why should we dismiss the concerns of another, because they are not the exact same concerns as one's own?
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
24 Nov 12
Personally when it comes to Political correctness no matter where you live, etc. many times they do tend to take it too far and start making comments about things that really do not make any sense. Here in the US there are people that have gone over board with who they are, race, etc. just like there. Many times I wish things could just go back to the way they were.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
24 Nov 12
Sense seems to be irrelevant where political correctness is concerned. It totally amazes me when people maker a great scene over such issues as using masculine words to encompass both genders, such as chairman, and insisting that it should be chairman/woman instead. We are speaking a language that has developed over centuries, so how can it suddenly be wrong.
@kokopelli (4842)
• United States
13 Nov 06
great discussion you got here asylum!
my first year here in the US taught me a lot on this topic. i didn't know before that race is really a 'thing' here, as well as some 'big-deal'-words. for example:
one, i should not say indians, instead, i have to refer to them as native american indians, or southwest native americans;
two, i should not say black or negro, instead, i have to say african american or afro-american;
three, i should never ever say 'fat' coz that's a very big offense to someone. then how would i say it if the person really is, in fact, even obese?
four, don't ever call gays 'f*a*g*s' but when you hear them call each other that, it's completely okay.
i hope not to cause anyone harm by saying something which is "politically incorrect", sigh. i'm still learning ...
(see, myLot doesn't even allow me to use the word "f*a*g*s", urgh!)
@kokopelli (4842)
• United States
14 Nov 06
it seems like to be politically correct, we got to be verbose, hehe.
@evil_little_bitch420 (1046)
• United States
3 Nov 06
Sorry this is too long for me to read right now. I will have to read this over later.
1 person likes this
@007Bond1974 (881)
• Philippines
12 Feb 07
I do agree with you my friend...the imposition is not only supeficial but also ambiguous...correct me if im wrong but i believe theres another law which treats public libel or slander...the basis of which is the act of bad faith or the intent to injure ones reputation and public standing,without due regards to ones rights and baselessness of accusation or utterances..this one is realy based on respect to ones identity life and liberty ...However this political correctness thing does not only repress freedom of speech and of expression...but may also create abuse by who may invoke it...this is a manifestation and example of a law does not serve its purpose(harmony among men/wemen of different affiliation,color,religion etc.)...rather it defeats it ....imagine making a word or phrase illegal if uttered without first determining the intent behind the utterance?thats persecution.and absence of due process of law where evidence as its basis!Clearly any utterance made in a spur of a moment or in a middle of a heated argument cannot be said to have been made in bad faith or to injure another until proven otherwise and to prove it otherwise requires evidence....peace!
@fiasco007 (819)
• United States
12 Nov 06
yes, being from U.S. I know what you mean. it is perfectly fine for all minorities to be racist against whites, but not the opposite. i think alot of people are fed up
@Artsimba (1334)
• United States
12 Nov 06
I would also like to add to your stance that political correctness heightens the awareness that the world is going crazy. Calling all the parades and celebrations, even in schools and public places and even the Christmas tree: Holiday parade, Holiday vacation, Holiday tree is a travesty. After all what are people afraid of, that guilt is going to bite them in the a@#. After all, it is Christmas that falls on December 25. What's the matter with everyone. The U.S.A. was founded on Judaeo-Christian values and political correctness is getting a beating from the secular progressive warriors. I am over 50 and a tradionalist and in agreement with your views. If we don't take a stand we'll fall into their trap of lies and deceit and do away with Christmas altogether. Political correctness, therefore, is going too far. I hope you understand what I'm saying, as I've been wanting to share my thoughts on this ridiculous p.c. garbage. Love and giving are more the traditions of Christmas than the agenda of the left-wing organizations and I hope people wake up before it's too late. Thanks for letting me get this off my mind.
@delphi (26)
• India
13 Nov 06
I do think that political correctness in the use of words is just another way of evading the real core issues of equality. For instance how is actor more politically correct than actress? Discrimination is evident in the way you treat people not in the words used. How is Negro more offensive than Caucasian? As for jokes everyone knows that it is the more successful communities that are ridiculed. A question of sour grapes, shall we say? In India, we tend to target Sardarjis, a brave enterprising community that has contributed a President and a Nobel Prize winner to the country.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
14 Nov 06
This is true, if your manager is a woman and you call her Manageress then you could be accused of being sexist by highlighting the fact. Then again, if you call her Manager then you could well be accused of being sexist by refusing to acknowledge that a woman can do the job.
I think it could be safer to call her BOSS.
