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The article explains what is meant by political correctness in this case: What people mean by “political correctness.” … [is] their day-to-day ability to expre
by AlexTWithBeard 8y ago
The article explains what is meant by political correctness in this case:
What people mean by “political correctness.” … [is] their day-to-day ability to express themselves: They worry that a lack of familiarity with a topic, or an unthinking word choice, could lead to serious social sanctions for them.
It's about a careless word, a misinterpretation, an honest mistake or as little as stating a fact in a questionable context being able to ruin a person's life.
- tomlock 8y ago> They worry that a lack of familiarity with a topic, or an unthinking word choice What topic? What word choice? My point stands.
- AlexTWithBeard 8y agoThe article is talking about people using political correctness to bully others. A specific choice of topic and words is not important here.
- tomlock 8y agoOh but it is, if a choice of words determines if someone is being bullied or not.
- AlexTWithBeard 8y agoThat's exactly the point: a choice of words should not lead to bullying.
- tomlock 8y agoThat's not the point the article is making.
- nkurz 8y agoI think you are right that few people self-describe as "politically correct". Could you suggest a short alternative phrase that would improve Hanson's article? Or do you feel that word-choice aside, the referent itself does not exist?
- tomlock 8y agoPolitical correctness, as a phrase, does not adequately convey meaning in the same way "common sense" does not.
- nkurz 8y agoOK, let's accept that. What's a better phrase that Hanson could use instead, and while still making the same general argument? I agree that "political correctness" is pejorative, but I also think there is some real underlying phenomenon that Hanson is pointing at. What's a less charged term that he can use to better convey his point without creating unnecessary offense?
- tomlock 8y agoPerhaps the author could just describe the underlying "real" phenomena. Do you really feel like the author is incapable of doing that? Why?
- nkurz 8y agoI think the author describes it well, and makes quite clear that he is using Yascha Mounck's definition from a recent article in the Atlantic: "What people mean by “political correctness.” … [is] their day-to-day ability to express themselves: They worry that a lack of familiarity with a topic, or an unthinking word choice, could lead to serious social sanctions for them. (quotes, ellipses and brackets in original) He then links to the full piece that contains this definition: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/large-majorities-dislike-political-correctness/572581/ https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/large-majo.... To write an article about this concept, he needs some short phrase. My guess was that the issue you had with the article was not a lack of clarity, rather a lack of charity. Like "Social Justice Warrior", or "cultural Marxism", or other terms that people use predominately to refer to ideologies they disagree with, calling it "political correctness" makes it hard to to have a productive discussion with anyone who doesn't already agree. As someone who seems to take offense to the current phrase, I was hoping you might be able to suggest a less offensive alternative that would be equally clear.
- aperrien 8y agoI believe that most of this can be solved with better concept of respect. For myself, I choose not to use words that needlessly incite fear in others, or words that create an environment that makes them fear for their safety, or also needlessly and knowingly makes them feel bad about themselves. It does seem that respect is lacking more and more these days.
- escape_goat 8y agoThe article explains what the article means by political correctness. The survey question reported in the so-called "Hidden Tribes" report, from which the article derives its statistics, does not explain what is meant by 'political correctness'. It means whatever the respondent thinks it means.
- cma 8y agoAccording to that I'd say conservative churches and religious University campuses are the biggest PC things out there.