To think "politically correct" is one of the most over-used and misused terms around?

[Nennypops]

I keep seeing the term 'politically correct' being used all over the place as a catch-all terms of abuse by people who clearly have no idea what the term means but want to convey that whatever it is that they disapprove is in some way unnecessary, wet, lentil-knitting, left-wing, or even positively harmful.

For the sake of convenience, I'll adopt the definition of political correctness given in Wikipedia - "a term that refers to language, ideas, or policies that address perceived or actual discrimination against or alienation of politically, socially or economically disadvantaged groups. The term usually implies that these social considerations are excessive or of a purely "political" nature. These groups most prominently include those defined by gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability."

I accept that it can be valid to criticise over-sensitive concerns about discrimination, but I've seen the term used in defence when someone is called out for blatant racism/sexism/homophobia etc and richly deserves it. It usually signals to me, frankly, that the person in question is even more of an a*hole than their original conduct suggested - they are trying to suggest that they are in some way justified and that complaining is ludicrously over-sensitive.

If I see the term incorrectly used in support of what otherwise might be a valid argument, it instantly annoys me and changes the way I view the person using the term. It tends to be used in relation to things which seem to me to be self-evidently beneficial - e.g. breastfeeding, the right to a fair trial, the right of children not to be left with abusive parents, etc. It is also quite often used for things that have no conceivable element of political correctness at all; I once saw it used in relation to the suggestion that it would be an idea to take an umbrella out when it's raining.

Seems to me that it's time to make the term completely redundant. If you find yourself about to use the term "politically correct" just stop, and find some other way of expressing your views.

'Would you be prepared to do the killing yourself?'

No. But others might be prepared to do it.

'DNA evidence is not 100% safe.'

I think you are right. I wonder if it could even be planted at a crime scene, but I'm no expert. So i would not rely on DNA evidence. But there are murders where guilt is clear and if they are barbarous and horrific, I am beginning to move in favour of the death penalty. I would need to hear a debate from all sides to make a more informed decision.

'Why can't people be rehabilitated.'

I believe that some people are beyond rehabilitation - Charles Manson, Ian Brady and some paedophiles etc.

I also believe in punishment as setting an example to society as being important.

Quote by Doris Lessing on political correctness. It;s about following the party line and not saying what should not be said according to the party line.

“Political correctness is the natural continuum from the party line. What we are seeing once again is a self-appointed group of vigilantes imposing their views on others. It is a heritage of communism, but they don't seem to see this.”

Claig, the two biggest-selling newspapers in the UK are the Mail and the Sun, selling 4 million copies between them.

Do you think either of them is 'politically corrrect'?

Do you think that either of those are prevented from printing what they think (or rather, what their propietors think) by this all-oppressing force of political correctness of which you speak?

proprietors grr!

Boulevard, no they are not prevented. I have said that political correctness will fail as UKIP is showing us. But the Mail, the Sun and UKIP are all disapproved of, and people apologise for linking to the Mail.

There is opprobrium against all three, but nothing can prevent free speech.

Quote from author P.D. James

I believe that political correctness can be a form of linguistic fascism, and it sends shivers down the spine of my generation who went to war against fascism.

and last but certainly not least, quote from George Bush Senior

The notion of political correctness declares certain topics, certain expressions, even certain gestures, off-limits. What began as a crusade for civility has soured into a cause of conflict and even censorship.

Does political correctness have a good side? Yes, it does, for it makes us re-examine attitudes, and that is always useful. The trouble is that, as with all popular movements, the lunatic fringe so quickly ceases to be a fringe; the tail begins to wag the dog. For every woman or man who is quietly and sensibly using the idea to look carefully at our assumptions, there are twenty rabble-rousers whose real motive is a desire for power over others. The fact that they seem themselves as antiracists, or feminists, or whatever does not make them any less rabble-rousers.
From the same essay by Doris Lessing.
I would strongly suggest that you read the whole of the essay.

I can understand what claig is getting at it's not that difficult.

I agree wholeheartedly with Doris Lessing.
Of course, the civility of political correctness was positive. But as she says

For every woman or man who is quietly and sensibly using the idea to look carefully at our assumptions, there are twenty rabble-rousers whose real motive is a desire for power over others

It is what I said in my first post, these 'do-badders' who claim to be 'do-gooders', these politicians and so-called 'philanthropists' who seek power to control people's opinions and to stifle their free expression for their own political ends, these political forces that see people merely as 'clients' and who regard disregard for liberty and the truth as merely 'collateral damage' that are the problem.

Thanks, caruthers. It is difficult to nail the topic because political correctness is such a vast all-encompassing, pervasive backdrop to our thought that it has spread everywhere to challenge free opinion.

Oh good grief, it is to the UKIP cohort to whom she refers!
She would have been horrified to think for one second that someone chose that affiliation for her, absolutely horrified.

She was also a very strong feminist.

Oh good grief, it is to the UKIP cohort to whom she refers!

Was the following quote from her about UKIP?

'The fact that they seem themselves as antiracists, or feminists, or whatever does not make them any less rabble-rousers.'

claig love, getting involved in an academic argument with an academic is not the best idea in the world. I'll leave you with what dignity you have left.

claig you are using the term as is used in everyday parlance.

There could be a touch of pedantry in this thread.

The 'Don't click that link' cohorts do try to embarrass and demean posters who read the daily mail.

I know this is only one of the instances you pointed at and can clearly see your intention which is by no means a bad one.

In fact it's common sense.

'getting involved in an academic argument with an academic is not the best idea in the world'

Where is the academic? All I have seen is groupthink, Orwellian newspeak and political correctness gorn mad. Is that what students (sorry "clients") are taught today in what were once called our 'universities'?

But caruthers, that was actually the point of the OP; saying that the term PC as generally used, actually has nothing to do with political correctness.

Which in many ways claig went on to prove, by describing her own views on the death penalty and climate change as 'not politically correct'.

"political correctness gorn mad."

An example, please?

I am not an expert on the Human Rights Act, but as far as i understand it, it allows people to appeal to a higher European Court over and above a British court, and I am against that

No, it doesn't. I think you must be alluding to the European Court of Human Rights: our citizens' right to access that in fact comes from the Human Rights Convention, to which we signed up at least 40 years before the Human Rights Act.

Claig, you said that your measured statement that you were moving towards being in favour of the death penalty was "not politically correct". I said that there was nothing politically incorrect in your statement- but you chose not to respond. Could you respond now, please?

I can understand what claig is getting at it's not that difficult.

I think most of us can. The trouble is that she has her very own intepretation of the meaning of the term "political correctness" which does not accord with reality, and most of her posts illustrate precisely the point I made at the beginning of this thread.