4 ms·

Has Political Correctness Gone Off the Rails in America?

4 points by ranit 10y ago

vixen99 10y ago
If you chime with the flavor of most articles in the Guardian you'll love this piece about the 'deplorables'.
laughfactory 10y ago
In short, yes, the PC culture is way out of hand. We are teeter tottering over a chasm being pulled by two extremes: free speech as the right to insult whoever and however you please, and curbs on free speech because it can be threatening and scary and hurtful. Unless we find some middle ground the end to this conflict will not be pretty. Where do we go from here? Respect each other, treat each other kindly, extend grace readily, and individually work to develop thicker skins. We are all too sensitive, and quick to take offense. There will be lots of people who don't agree with us, who say mean, hurtful, scary things to us... We must expect this, and embrace our fortitude. We need to stop seeking safe places, and comfort, and instead seek to grow through the fires of difficulty. I think there's a lot of truth to the phrase: there is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone. If that is true then I fear the new generations drive for safe spaces (etc.) means that they are missing crucial opportunities for growth. Let's be clear. Out here in the real world it's a dog eat dog place where no one gives a shit about your feelings. Either you are an asset (HR = human "resources"), or you are not, and you are summarily terminated. Bottom line: all of us need to become more tough, stronger. And that only happens by challenging ourselves, being uncomfortable, interacting with those who disagree. I personally embrace opportunities to learn from those who have, for example, different political beliefs, because I believe it enriches and challenges me...And therefore makes me a more whole and well rounded person.
- matt4077 10y ago
  - "The real world" is not the workplace. - Generally, puberty is by far the cruelest time of life > "personally embrace opportunities to learn [...] it enriches and challenges me[ ...] makes me a more whole and well rounded person." You're getting awfully close to getting me to use the p-word :). Anyway, what you're describing may be an abstract debate about the benefits of some policy. What some people (apparently – I'm not among them but consider the idea plausible) experience is debates about them, personally. So if puberty was a bit difficult because you wouldn't sing along to the (completely voluntary) praises to the lord, and you're so happy to have found likeminded people at the big-city university, it probably hits you a bit harder when the Campus Christian Campaign holds a rally outside your dorm-room window. That's not to say the examples from the article aren't ridiculous and excessive. But all too often these articles are used as arguments by people who also consider it "liberal excess" when (one example I remember) a female presenter at #largeITConference complains about dozens of tweets commenting on her appearance.

4 points by ranit 10y ago

If you chime with the flavor of most articles in the Guardian you'll love this piece about the 'deplorables'.

In short, yes, the PC culture is way out of hand. We are teeter tottering over a chasm being pulled by two extremes: free speech as the right to insult whoever and however you please, and curbs on free speech because it can be threatening and scary and hurtful. Unless we find some middle ground the end to this conflict will not be pretty. Where do we go from here? Respect each other, treat each other kindly, extend grace readily, and individually work to develop thicker skins. We are all too sensitive, and quick to take offense. There will be lots of people who don't agree with us, who say mean, hurtful, scary things to us... We must expect this, and embrace our fortitude. We need to stop seeking safe places, and comfort, and instead seek to grow through the fires of difficulty. I think there's a lot of truth to the phrase: there is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone. If that is true then I fear the new generations drive for safe spaces (etc.) means that they are missing crucial opportunities for growth. Let's be clear. Out here in the real world it's a dog eat dog place where no one gives a shit about your feelings. Either you are an asset (HR = human "resources"), or you are not, and you are summarily terminated. Bottom line: all of us need to become more tough, stronger. And that only happens by challenging ourselves, being uncomfortable, interacting with those who disagree. I personally embrace opportunities to learn from those who have, for example, different political beliefs, because I believe it enriches and challenges me...And therefore makes me a more whole and well rounded person.

matt4077 10y ago
- "The real world" is not the workplace. - Generally, puberty is by far the cruelest time of life > "personally embrace opportunities to learn [...] it enriches and challenges me[ ...] makes me a more whole and well rounded person." You're getting awfully close to getting me to use the p-word :). Anyway, what you're describing may be an abstract debate about the benefits of some policy. What some people (apparently – I'm not among them but consider the idea plausible) experience is debates about them, personally. So if puberty was a bit difficult because you wouldn't sing along to the (completely voluntary) praises to the lord, and you're so happy to have found likeminded people at the big-city university, it probably hits you a bit harder when the Campus Christian Campaign holds a rally outside your dorm-room window. That's not to say the examples from the article aren't ridiculous and excessive. But all too often these articles are used as arguments by people who also consider it "liberal excess" when (one example I remember) a female presenter at #largeITConference complains about dozens of tweets commenting on her appearance.