Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Move over Bill!!!! (Maher that is)

Politically correct. Wikipedia says: The central uses of the term relate to particular issues of race, gender, disability, ethnicity, sexual preference, culture and worldviews, and encompass both the language in which issues are discussed and the viewpoints that are expressed. Proponents of the view that differences in IQ test scores between blacks and whites are (primarily or largely) genetically determined state that criticism of these views is based on political correctness.
Examples of language commonly referred to as "politically correct" include
So in essence what we have is an excuse to be intentionally obtuse when the old-fashioned, more succint term was more often than not perfectly acceptable.  Why say in one word what we can say in 2 or 3.   And that's progressive???  "Political Correctness" is a manner of expressing ideas that is based on the misconception that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. (no - that is not an original thought but why bother restating the obvious when it has already been done in such a succint manner???)

Now don't get me wrong.  Some of the examples above make perfect sense - firefighter and police officer being prime examples. Largely, however, common sense has been supplanted  by politically correct doublespeak.  In our attempts to not offend anyone we have created a situation in which too often people use political cortrctness and doublespeak to mask the fact that they are not taking a position on anything. They are cleverly using rhetoric that makes what they are saying seemingly make sense to supporters of both sides of an issue. 

Is anyone but me surprised that professional politicians are not champion cyclists??  Nobody - and I do mean NOBODY can backpedal as fast as a politician. We need new cycling events in the Olympics so the polsd can display their prowess!

IMHO the biggest danger posed by PC is the the loss of open and honest communication. A an example I submit - That hearing impaired, mute, visually impaired young male individual sure plays an incredibly proficient and aggressive game of pinball  as a replacement for "That deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pin ball!"

Maybe things weren't so bad when this conversation (from the movie Gran Torino) was not prohibited by PC 


Barber Martin: There. You finally look like a human being again. You shouldn't wait so long between hair cuts, you cheap son of a bitch.
Walt Kowalski: Yeah. I'm surprised you're still around. I was always hoping you'd die off and they got someone in here that knew what the hell they were doing. Instead, you're just hanging around like the duop dego you are.
Barber Martin: That'll be ten bucks, Walt.
Walt Kowalski: Ten bucks? Jesus Christ, Marty. What are you, half Jew or somethin'? You keep raising the damn prices all the time.
Barber Martin: It's been ten bucks for the last five years, you hard-nosed pollock son of a bitch.
Walt Kowalski: Yeah, well keep the change.
Barber Martin: See you in three weeks, prick.
Walt Kowalski: Not if I see you first, dipshit. 

And lastly - is this song politically correct?????





5 comments:

  1. "Political Correctness" is so over the top these days in my book. Do Wah Diddy brings back great memories and puts a smile on my face.

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  2. Yeah - that song always puts a smile on my face.

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  3. You have articulated something that I feel strongly about too. Leave aside these politically correct expressions, how about passed away for died, indisposed for sick, uncontrollable for violent and so on. I am particularly fond of using such words for their shock effect.

    And that song is priceless. Money can't buy the emotions that evokes. (Read my tomorrow's post!)

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    1. I'm with you Ramana. I think the most important line is the one referencing open and honest communications. That's simply not possible with PC doublespeak.

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  4. Sorry, I have rescheduled the post about money not being able to buy things to Monday.

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