Since we are at it.....

MrsJuneHawk

I know I cannot possibly be the only person here that thinks our society's views on political correctness has gotten completely out of hand.  Cognitively Delayed? Seriously?  The political correct, whatever that means, term that bothers me the most is African-American

The way I see it, political correctness is not an individual's desire to call someone x,y or z but an individual's fear, yes, fear, of saying something that will offend someone.  So, in essence, political correctness is nothing more than a person's way that will get them accepted by society by not pissing anyone off.

The political correct, whatever that means, term that bothers me the most is African-American.  People are so afraid of calling black people black that they end up offending them by calling them something they are not.  Many blacks are neither African nor American.  I have even heard the term African Canadian quoted.  The ridiculousness of that is just beyond my comprehension.

No matter what you say, there will always, no exception, someone, somewhere that will take offense.  That's just a fact of life.  If I offend anyone by rambling like this about political correctness, then so be it.  I am an individual with a way of thinking that is not, and does NOT have to be, the same as yours.  Accept it and move on.

punkfiction

i agree. i think what bothers me is that words change - ie: gay used to mean happy, then it meant "in love with same sex" or whatever, and that people get all f'in bajiggity when they use it another way. why can't that word evolve as well? bc now it describes a group of people?

lvisser

:::puts on flame resistant pregnant body suit:::

I agree.

:::runs the hell outta this post::: 

books4brooke

I'm Scottish Caucasian TYVM.

I lived in D.C. where a lot of people were Africans, not African Americans.

Janimal

Using political correctness in MY life is a matter of respect, not fear.

 

PD's_Momma

I agree as well. Hold the door Ivis, I'm behind you!!!

fauxbunny

You're not alone. My husband is black and says he'd slap anyone for calling him African/Afro-American. Or a Person Of Colour (I've seen that one SOOO much in some places!)... Lol.

When he gets home I'm going to call him an African-Asian-American import to Canada. I'm sure he'll like it.

I wonder how many people would(or are) be offended by how I talk about Sammy having a deformed hand. It sounds terrible I guess, but it's how it is. HE HAS A WONKY HAND, PC-IZE ME!

ohwhattheheck

I totally agree!

Go ahead and flame me for this but I saw a black gentleman at a restaurant the other day wearing a t-shirt that said "Stolen from Africa".  When I was finally able to get Bob Marley out of my head I realized that his ancestors have most likely lived in the US longer than mine and how many people would look at me like an azz if I wore a t shirt that said "forced from Europe because of religious persecution".

ibfloridagirl

It annoys me to no end how many people are offended by things that do NOT offend the people they are "protecting" with PC terms. 

punkfiction

ibfloridagirl:

It annoys me to no end how many people are offended by things that do NOT offend the people they are "protecting" with PC terms. 

 

LOL yes. i used to laugh when a gay friend would say "omg thats so gay" (and mean it as stupid or dumb). we'd pretend to get all riled up and laugh. 

kgb1411

ibfloridagirl:

It annoys me to no end how many people are offended by things that do NOT offend the people they are "protecting" with PC terms. 

It kind of makes me laugh.   Have you seen this book/website?  Check out #101.

https://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/full-list-of-stuff-white-people-like/

punkfiction

kgb, watch it. i was called out for being a racist bc i had a link to that blog on my blog.

kgb1411

punkfiction:

kgb, watch it. i was called out for being a racist bc i had a link to that blog on my blog.

seriously?  There was a copy of it prominently displayed in my sister's very liberal liberal arts college.

punkfiction

kgb1411:

punkfiction:

kgb, watch it. i was called out for being a racist bc i had a link to that blog on my blog.

seriously?  There was a copy of it prominently displayed in my sister's very liberal liberal arts college.

yes. one of the entries called michelle obama "ghetto" and so i was racist for promoting the site. 

and the funny part is that the site is not written by all white people LOL

books4brooke

kgb1411:

ibfloridagirl:

It annoys me to no end how many people are offended by things that do NOT offend the people they are "protecting" with PC terms. 

It kind of makes me laugh.   Have you seen this book/website?  Check out #101.

https://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/full-list-of-stuff-white-people-like/

That list is great!  And all things I like... which makes me feel a little ridiculous!  

MegGary

I hold back things so I don't offend. I just don't feel like going there most days. I go against my own beliefs & views to do that. Example: I say "oh for the love of Pete" instead of "oh for the love of God." I don't believe in God. I just don't feel like being scolded for taking the Lords name in vain & deffending my beliefs all the time.

I also think people need to relax on here & IRL. This doesn't mean that we should all go around spewing words of hate or not taking other peoples feelings into consideration. I just think that the world needs to not be so supper sensative all the time about everything. It gets so darn tiring.

goodtobethelarkster

Eh... PCness can get out of hand but so can most things...

But, in reference to these boards anyway, I think there's a distinction between the "should black people be referred to as black or as African American" thing and the "let's use an identity group as an insult" thing.

If some posts something idiotic you would never in a million years say "OMG that's so black" or "OMG you're such a Jew" or whatever because you "mean it as a joke," "PC-ness has gone overboard," and "the word is evolving."  So it's equally not cool to say "OMG you're such a retard" or "OMG you're such a fag." 

One is obsessing over labels.  The other is using membership in an identity group as an insult. I can see why some people feel quibbling over labels is a bit ridiculous.  I don't get why some people feel that not using group membership as an insult is ridiculous.

jade_sweatpea

I learn something new every single day on this board.

*Bre*

goodtobethelarkster:

Eh... PCness can get out of hand but so can most things...

But, in reference to these boards anyway, I think there's a distinction between the "should black people be referred to as black or as African American" thing and the "let's use an identity group as an insult" thing.

If some posts something idiotic you would never in a million years say "OMG that's so black" or "OMG you're such a Jew" or whatever because you "mean it as a joke," "PC-ness has gone overboard," and "the word is evolving."  So it's equally not cool to say "OMG you're such a retard" or "OMG you're such a fag." 

One is obsessing over labels.  The other is using membership in an identity group as an insult. I can see why some people feel quibbling over labels is a bit ridiculous.  I don't get why some people feel that not using group membership as an insult is ridiculous.

you've never heard "omg you're such a Jew" ? It was frequently spewed at my high school or instead of saying "that's gay" they would say "that's jewish"

despicable. 

punkfiction

*Bre*:

goodtobethelarkster:

Eh... PCness can get out of hand but so can most things...

But, in reference to these boards anyway, I think there's a distinction between the "should black people be referred to as black or as African American" thing and the "let's use an identity group as an insult" thing.

If some posts something idiotic you would never in a million years say "OMG that's so black" or "OMG you're such a Jew" or whatever because you "mean it as a joke," "PC-ness has gone overboard," and "the word is evolving."  So it's equally not cool to say "OMG you're such a retard" or "OMG you're such a fag." 

One is obsessing over labels.  The other is using membership in an identity group as an insult. I can see why some people feel quibbling over labels is a bit ridiculous.  I don't get why some people feel that not using group membership as an insult is ridiculous.

you've never heard "omg you're such a Jew" ? It was frequently spewed at my high school or instead of saying "that's gay" they would say "that's jewish"

despicable. 

yeah, its actually just as common as "gay" or "retarded" IMO. is it right? of course not, but its common.

KGsky

I laugh at white people who trip over themselves and get all tongue tied when they have to refer to a person of African descent.  I can see why the term would bother you.  It's like 10 times longer than just saying "black."  Personally, I use the term black, and African American is not that near and dear to my heart.  What strikes me as interesting, however, is that people seem to be annoyed that they should have to have respect for other people.  And it really doesn't surprise me that a black person married to someone who's not black would "slap someone" for referring to them as African American. LMAO.  Anything but that!  I think interracialism is a beautiful thing (for without it I should not exist), but I hate when the "black" half decides that "I shall not be defined by that word, I am not my African heritage and woe be to those that shall remind me of it."  Sheesh. It's actually something to be proud of...well, at least I think so.

Skipperg82

I've heard the Jew thing before too, but I'm Jewish and I call my sister that all the time...I know it's hypocritical but personally I don't get that offended if someone is part of "that" group and uses the word.

I think it's different on here because you are typing, not just speaking quickly without thinking. ?I don't know about others but when I type I sit and actually think through what I'm going to write...so actually thinking the thought, then putting into words, sitting back, spell checking, then hitting post implies a greater intent to harm then just accidently speaking without thinking.

FTR, I get offended when people say "gay" but not as much when they say "retarded". ?From reading what other people have to say about the term "retarded" I am much more observant of what I and others say!?

goodtobethelarkster

Yikes!  I had no idea the "Jew as insult" thing was so common.  That's disgusting.

My original point still stands, though.

If you're wandering around insulting people by saying they're gay or retarded or Jewish or black or female or whatever then you are not scoring one for free speech by striking a blow against the overly PC Liberal Media Elite because "words evolve and people need to learn to take a joke."  You are being an a$$hat. 

Janimal

I've had people use the term "Jew" in front of and to me in a derogatory way.  And when I have said "I'm Jewish" several times I have been told "Oh, you don't look Jewish, and I mean that as a compliment."

So I'm supposed to be complimented that Jews apparently don't look good?  Ni-ice.

I don't like the term "african american" because it just isn't accurate.   But if someone is using it, to me, it just says they are trying to be respectful, they just don't know the right way to go about it.

KGsky

Skipperg82:

I've heard the Jew thing before too, but I'm Jewish and I call my sister that all the time...I know it's hypocritical but personally I don't get that offended if someone is part of "that" group and uses the word.

Ah...kind of like the whole "insider use" of the N-word.  I used to be o.k. with it, until I started hearing it from Latino (and some white) kids on the subway.  It got worse when I realized that some of my latino friends would use the word with abandon, crack up laughing at black jokes, and then go stone-faced when someone used a derrogatory term for latinos or told a latino joke.  For shame, for shame.  So, yes the N-word has to be completely banned now, sorry!

Timeg

I totally agree. It is insane the extent this has gone. I was reading through some sites for my job and ran across an organization, cited by many states in their policy, that had a list a mile long of things people could not say. E.g. we can no longer refer to teenage or adult females as "girls." It is either women, young women, etc. Girls can only refer to children under a certain age.

 Excuse me, but I have never been insulted by the term "girl." That's just pathetic... 

Skipperg82

Janimal:

I've had people use the term "Jew" in front of and to me in a derogatory way.? And when I have said "I'm Jewish" several times I have been told "Oh, you don't look Jewish, and I mean that as a compliment."

So I'm supposed to be complimented that Jews apparently don't look good?? Ni-ice.

Whoa, that's just wrong. ?I should clarify that my sister and I use the term out of pride. ?I tell her she looks "Jewish" in a picture it's because we are proud of our ethnicity? religion? (whatever you want to call it) and happy to showcase our Jewish-ness.

The use of the N-word I think is just wrong all around, but I have heard it used SO much by the black community. ?Whoopi explained on The View her thoughts on using the word and I think she explained herself really well, saying that thinks that blacks use the word because they use it the way they want to, and have taken it out of the hands of people who used to use the word negatively and turned it into something different. ?(I'm paraphrasing here)...anyway here is the link to the video if any of you are interested. ?It's an interesting debate to me:?

https://www.postchronicle.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=81&num=158867

KaitlynDC6

goodtobethelarkster:

Eh... PCness can get out of hand but so can most things...

But, in reference to these boards anyway, I think there's a distinction between the "should black people be referred to as black or as African American" thing and the "let's use an identity group as an insult" thing.

If some posts something idiotic you would never in a million years say "OMG that's so black" or "OMG you're such a Jew" or whatever because you "mean it as a joke," "PC-ness has gone overboard," and "the word is evolving."  So it's equally not cool to say "OMG you're such a retard" or "OMG you're such a fag." 

You took the words right out of my mouth. Err...keyboard.

One is obsessing over labels.  The other is using membership in an identity group as an insult. I can see why some people feel quibbling over labels is a bit ridiculous.  I don't get why some people feel that not using group membership as an insult is ridiculous.

102503Natalie

Holy crap, I love you.  I think you're my new favorite nestie.  I seriously could've said this word for word.  I agree with some PC sentiments, but many are just flat out ridiculous.  I call it "panties in a wad mentality" - everyone takes everything WAY too seriously in life. 

iris427

goodtobethelarkster:

Eh... PCness can get out of hand but so can most things...

But, in reference to these boards anyway, I think there's a distinction between the "should black people be referred to as black or as African American" thing and the "let's use an identity group as an insult" thing.

If some posts something idiotic you would never in a million years say "OMG that's so black" or "OMG you're such a Jew" or whatever because you "mean it as a joke," "PC-ness has gone overboard," and "the word is evolving."  So it's equally not cool to say "OMG you're such a retard" or "OMG you're such a fag." 

One is obsessing over labels.  The other is using membership in an identity group as an insult. I can see why some people feel quibbling over labels is a bit ridiculous.  I don't get why some people feel that not using group membership as an insult is ridiculous.

Yep.