PC: to be or not to be

[Kätzchen]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

*edited* So what do you think it is that makes people want to distance themselves from political correctness?

I like how you define what the term politically correct means to you. I think that most people see being politically correct as being an outward form of extended politeness, mostly seasoned and tempered by kind-heartedness.

However, I don't know that I wholly believe that exercising polite mannerisms or tempering speech with tonal qualities embued with kindness is at the heart of being politically correct.

Before the term politically correct became part of my own wider growing vocabulary of terms I could coherently understand, I usually watched my parents, siblings, family friends or friends in my family's social circle practice choosing sides on a variety of issues: Whether the issue was some topic of importance heard on a news broadcast or some issue of political debate after a Sunday morning sermon at church or some issue of importance arising from a work related event in question.

To date, primarily, this is how I have always believed what being politically correct has nearly always been... choosing sides. Deciding where one stands on a subject of interest has meant that one is choosing to adopt ideas that they believe makes sense to them; which seems to fit perfectly into their own understanding of what feels politically correct. Now, whether the choice they make to rationalize their decision to accept or take a stand or be party to a particular choice is the best side to be on or an idea worth perpetuating is another unforeseen consequence in the politically correct proverbial pie.

For example, just because an person declares a particular belief or value to be true or the best way to solve any x, y or z problem, doesn't always means that their choice is the best solution nor does it mean it's politically correct.

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

*edited* Do they dislike the term? Or do they resent the effort required to consider their words and the effects they may have? Do they see it as a sort of forced censorship? Do they think it is just foolish because it doesn't change anything really. A rose is a rose by any other name and all that...

I don't know because I can only offer how I think and feel about what I know or how I understand what being politically correct means.

If we're talking about the definition you hold of what politically correct means, then no - I think it's always a good thing to be responsible in your choices - to be kind, to extend courteous communication with a generous dose of respect; respect for the other as well as for ones self. I don't know that being kind and respectful can be turned on its head to be seen as a form of censorship.

You've asked some great questions about how one understands the tenuous differences between being politically correct or acting in reasonable ways to sustain positive interaction in communicative ways.

I know it took me a few days to put together an response to the questions you've posed, but I often wonder myself how others weave together their own insight on this particular subject of interest.