What does the term "politically correct" mean to you?

1. 68

   collegedadposted 11 years ago

   What does the term "politically correct" mean to you?
   
   I was recently told that I needed to be "politically correct" in my statements. I won't elaborate here, but I have a strong opinion about folks who abuse social entitlement programs and this rubs some the wrong way. When someone says that I'm being "politically incorrect" the old saying "the truth hurts" comes to mind!
   
   What is your opinion of the term "politically correct"

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2. 37

   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   Politically correct means respectful and not disparaging to groups of people as a whole.  You (meaning a collective not you personally)  can be against something without being obnoxious or rude about it or harsh.  People tend to not debate, but argue and that's where the valid points get lost. 
   
   Politically correct is how you get people to actually possibly listen to what you have to say.  A bully pulpit will not do that.

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      collegedadposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you about rudeness. To many people are obnoxious with their opinions. I always try to keep an even tone with people. If they don't respect my opinions that fine. They are entitled to my opinions just as I am entitled to mine.

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      Larry Wallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am afraid, I must disagree. Being politically correct does not always mean respectful. It means going along with the prevailing norms. At one time it was politically correct to treat black people as inferior. That was the norm, but it was not right

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   dahoglundposted 11 years ago

   I think it is sort of like what we used to call "the party line."  Orwell might call it group think.

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      Larry Wallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Group think is a good explanation. Unfortunately, the prevailing group may not be the best group for determining what is correct and what is incorrect or improper.

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   Josakposted 11 years ago

   Attempting to not offend people unless it's absolutely necessary is a good philosophy in life.
   
   BTW, about social entitlement programs and people who abuse them I totally agree, they are scum, thankfully they are factually and provably well under 1% of US households who receive social program money and are not working or disabled, elderly, veterans etc.

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      collegedadposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Evidently my neighbor who's three year old little girl was playing in the middle of the street barefoot this morning (at 36 degrees) while he tokes on his medical marijuana in the house feels that I was offensive when I called the police. LOL

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   Larry Wallposted 11 years ago

   Politically correct, has a meaning, but that meaning is absolutely meaningless to me. I am not trying to be cryptic, I am just saying, I try to write, and behave in a professional manner and do not go out of my way to insult someone or some group. But I do not ever worry about being politically correct. If that is you position, then no one will never know or possibly care where you stand because you are always changing your comments to be in step with the ruling demographic group at that moment.

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      fpherj48posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Larry......Bravo!  You have spoken for me.  My Dad used the term, "Fence riders"......someone always ready to jump to EITHER side of an issue, depending upon WHO they're trying to please.  I IGNORE those folks entirely!

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   taburkettposted 11 years ago

   It means "Play Nice" or be chastised for speaking the truth.  Politicians invented this as a means to protect themselves against individuals who spoke the truth.  This then permits them to break the law and still remain in power. 
   In today's society anyone who demands that you be "Politically Correct" is requesting that you quit telling the truth because it hurts them.
   For example, "Gay" is an abnormal personal choice - not a formidable promotable lifestyle that will perpetuate a healthy future for humans.  However, under the guise of "Political Correctness", it is an acceptable alternative to normality because a "Gay" person believes it so.

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      collegedadposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you on speaking the truth. Recently I was told it wasn't politically correct to call out a local politician in a public meeting. Even though what he was doing was completely illegal.

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      Larry Wallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I do not disagree with you,  but I just see it as an effort to keep individuals from being honest with expressing their views and opinions. I am not approving offensive language, but I do support the right to disagree--hope we can agree on that.

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      Express10posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with Larry and CollegeDad. Many people cannot agree to disagree in certain situations and when there is wrongdoing involved as CollegeDad said, many choose to ignore it hope it goes away on it's own. Sad.

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7. 71

   stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

   "Politically correct" literally means that speech which a politician often uses - that which is least likely to offend or (not applicable to all politicians, but apt here) that which doesn't make waves.
   
   This term is often incorrectly used and definitely over-used.  Most of the time it is used, it is derisively, as if to imply that people can't say what they want anymore - often by people who would rather shoot off their mouths right from the hip, damn  people's feelings, sensitivities or points of view.
   
   This isn't true.  It just means that civilized people don't act like jerks and use terms and expressions that could genuinely anger someone or hurt his/her feelings.  Some people even go so far as to say that to use "his/her" is lame, ridiculous, wimpy and "politically correct".  It is not at all a bad thing that we should pay attention to what we say and how we say it.  "Politically correct" or not, it's just plain decency to show respect for another's feelings in your everyday speech.

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   LandmarkWealthposted 11 years ago

   Political correctness has basically devolved into being able to offend those in the majority, but not the minority...even when your comments are truthful.  When a society has devolved politically to the point than the only time you can tell the truth is when it done by a comedian in a stand up act, while everyone else ignores what is happening around them...society is in trouble.

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   Express10posted 11 years ago

   Being politically correct means that you make an attempt to not hurt other people's feelings by using certain disparaging words or phrases but it also means that you are not "telling it like it is." Therefore, some important details are being left out and consequently not being discussed. Quite often it comes across as BS because it is not genuine or sincere and this is why it can rub people the wrong way. Depending upon the actual execution, there are times when to me being politically correct means avoidance of saying the truth, even tactfully just to avoid hurt feelings. Landmark Wealth and Taburkett have raised valid points here.

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    jansharesposted 11 years ago

    I think it means that you respect the sensibilities of others by putting aside your need to espouse your position on an issue. In other words, holding off on saying how you really feel, for the sake of avoiding unintended slights or insults.

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    Man of Strengthposted 11 years ago

    Politically correct means not to offend. It's sugar coating the truth. Depending on the subject, it may prevent honest and beneficial dialogue.

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    bethperryposted 11 years ago

    The original meanings of words and phrases of course changes over time, but I believe today the term political correctness has two very closely related definitions:
    1. The expectation that something spoken, written or engaged in by physical act or participation will in no case give rise to a sense of "offense" to any person, groups of persons, living or dead, or their descendants that have, at least during one point in history, existed on the planet known as Earth.
    2. The act of pointing out a possible breach of definition (1) with lightning speed, angry, colorful and possibly defaming exuberance, and with full immunity from reproach for that exuberance because in doing so, one presumes to act as a watchdog of Political Correctness and is therefore not subject to penalty of breaching definition (1) during said act of watchdogfulness.

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    AlexDrinkH2Oposted 11 years ago

    “Political Correctness is Cultural Marxism, a regime to punish dissent and to stigmatize social heresy as the Inquisition punished religious heresy. Its trademark is intolerance.”
    
    Patrick Buchanan – The Death of the West 
    I could not agree more.

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    ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years ago

    Political correctness is the suppression of facts and discourse through the arbitrary refusal to tolerate certain common terms or phrases. The stigmatized words, which usually have been accepted parts of a country's dialect for ages, are replaced with new ones meaning essentially the same thing but deemed more suitable by ulterior interests. An individual considered to be undesirable by these specific group political interests are able to be marginalized and refused entry into a discussion because they are made to appear bigoted or insensitive, whether or not it is true.
    
    The point is that whenever an ulterior motive is at stake, people are willing to lie, distort, coerce, feign sensitivity, and resort to double standards. That is also the nature of politics.

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    Kate Mc Brideposted 10 years ago

    I was told recently to "park my contempt". It was good advice because the person who told me to do so is someone I admire and respect. "Politically correct" is uncomfortable but practical-it gets things done.Speaking plainly is uncomfortable for others who don't like the truth unvarnished. Having said that, I still think saying how it is is better than being politically correct. Is this right?

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