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.

'Now, answer the questions or bugger off!'

Were you a communist interrogator in a past life?

But it does browbeat some people into not speaking their minds and remaining silent on all sorts of political issues.

What people? What political issues are they being browbeaten into remaining silent on?

Political correctness is a general term and people worry about saying the wrong things so often that we are afraid to just say what we think. Whether or not what we say offends others or not can only be decided by the person offended. Whether or not it is a 'PC' thing to say is irrelevant to most situations and it's the over use of this phrase that's causing people to feel oppressed.

'What people? What political issues are they being browbeaten into remaining silent on?'

There was once a religious orthodoxy. You couldn't challenge the Catholic Church's view, you could be deemed a heretic and once people were even burnt at the stake for holding views that were in opposition to the orthodoxy.

There are always orthodoxies and political othodoxies and some people would still like dissenters to be treated as "traitors" or "thrown into jail" for opposing orthodoxies.

Were you a communist interrogator in a past life?
No, I just, like others get pissed off at a completely nonsensical thread hijack. You keep popping up with your odd comments and you don't actually answer any relevant questions. If you want people to listen to you or to think that you have a functioning brain, then the obvious thing to do, for most people would be to continue the discussion in hand, this can be achieved by answering some of the questions put to you, but you seem unable to answer them, so one wonders what your agenda is. Well, actually they don't, your agenda is fairly clear, to turn the thread into the direction you want it, and when people pick you up on your nonsense you can hoick your bosom and say: See, look, they all pick on me. But all we get from you is obfuscation.

There are always orthodoxies and political othodoxies and some people would still like dissenters to be treated as "traitors" or "thrown into jail" for opposing orthodoxies.
That's what UKIP want to do with my children.

Claig, what do you specifically want to say that political correctness prevents you from saying?

What question would you like me to answer that I haven't answered?

The one above, for a kick off.
A defence of your language too, would be of interest. 'Mad, insane' etc.

Claig, what do you specifically want to say that political correctness prevents you from saying?

Is like to know what specific things political correctness is preventing you from freely saying?

'Claig, what do you specifically want to say that political correctness prevents you from saying?'

It doesn't prevent me from saying anything because I don't mind being told that "I have problems" or am "nonsensical" or "do not have a functioning brain" because I disagree with people because I know that they are all untrue.

But, political correctness is about a climate that seeks to restrict free expression in others and that therefore creates resentment in what is called the 'silent majority' who feel they must remain 'silent' lest they are branded as having "problems" etc.

"Were you a communist interrogator in a past life?"

I think I've seen that response before. Does it mean "I can say what I like but I won't answer questions?"

'The one above, for a kick off.
A defence of your language too, would be of interest. 'Mad, insane' etc.'

I have answered the one above - it doesn't prevent me saying anything.

I think mad and insane are terms that have been used in teh English language for centuries and I do not see why they should stop being used.

OK, then Claig. Give me a specific example of somebody you think has been silenced by political correctness, and what they wanted to say, and also something you have said which you think would be considered not politically correct.

So nothing basically ...it has no impact on you but it does on lesser mortals...okay then

I shall carry on being pc safe in the knowledge that it hurts no one but still massively pissed off the right !

Because they are rude, because they hurt people's feelings, because they are actually incorrect terms for mental illness. Those are the reasons we shouldn't use them, and if political correctness prevents you from hurting the feelings of those with mental health problems, then good, that is the way it should be.

I'm a working single parent Kim...I'm doomed!

'Because they are rude'

Does saying that Charles Manson is mad and insane hurt his feelings? I think it is correct to say that he is mad and insane and dangerous too.

What would you prefer to call him?

Again, logical fallacies.
Charles Manson had various delusions. There is no official diagnosis of mad and insane anymore, we know better, thank goodness. Now, I would suggest that you'd get a lot further if you stopped dragging in ridiculous examples. We both know that I wasn't referring to Manson, but you want to employ various fallacies to support your argument when all they do is invalidate it. Try to be serious and then you may be taken seriously. If you were one of my students you would without a doubt be failing the course for being unable to provide empirical evidence, if nothing else.
It is still rude and harmful to call people with difficulties those names.

There are always orthodoxies and political othodoxies and some people would still like dissenters to be treated as "traitors" or "thrown into jail" for opposing orthodoxies.

So, what "orthodoxies" are you talking about in the context of the present time (not the attitude of the Catholic Church to heretics centuries ago, ffs), and what is it that you claim the dissenters want to say in opposition to them that is being prevented by political correctness?