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All this weaponization of the words "political correctness" is quite obviously a nervous white phenomenon, a defense mechanism -- for example, do we talk about
by detcader 13y ago
All this weaponization of the words "political correctness" is quite obviously a nervous white phenomenon, a defense mechanism -- for example, do we talk about the banning of the ethnic studies program and Latino/Latina social studies books in Arizona as "political correctness gone awry"? [1] No, but that's obviously what it is: latin@ teachers exposing latin@ high school students to material [2] that offends white people. If anyone but white people are offended they're "just being PC"; if white people are offended, they get to be "victims of reverse racism"; same for gender of course.
As a colleague of mine put it: "Political correctness, as a concept, is a figment of right wingers, that usually accompanies ideas like agenda, or guilt. I think what we're referring to when speaking of sensitivity is something other than the typical "PC" concept. Inclusivity, and thoughtfulness are nearly unarguably good things.
I think most reactionaries, and lesser angry white guys typically dislike the increased sensitivity that goes along with this more inclusive attitude America has today. No one has a right not to be offended. No one should expect civil treatment 100% of the time; people aren't that thoughtful. Further, there's no responsibility to not harm or injure another's sense of well being through speech.
I'm free to be a racist ignoramus, and alienate anyone I choose to talk to in public, and it's a good thing. It's also a good thing that I will have to face consequences for socially unacceptable behavior. I'm mostly tired of trite apologies from people that lacked the backbone to stand behind their speech, for instance, Tracy Morgan, who repented quickly about his anti-gay stand up. I wish people had the foresight to realize the consequences, and if they decide to say something, they should have enough will to counter criticism as a valid personal opinion, which all types of heinous stuff are. It's heinousness is not the same as lacking in credibility, or serious intent."
FIRE is an explicitly right-wing org whose purpose is to deliberately conflate violation of free-speech rights (which only the government can do) with criticism and banning of certain kinds of speech by non-government people and institutions from their forums and spaces, when it is not illegal to do so. It's a bit like the ADF, whose purpose is to conflate criticism of Zionism with anti-Semitism... it also reminds me of people who complain about CPS, but that's just me
[1] http://saveethnicstudies.org/ http://saveethnicstudies.org/
[2] http://azethnicstudies.com/banned-books http://azethnicstudies.com/banned-books
- glenra 13y ago> it also reminds me of people who complain about CPS, but that's just me I give up; what does CPS stand for in this context?
- detcader 13y agoChild Protective Services, i.e. the thing that discourages people from beating their children. Some see it as "liberal values" being imposed on them or w/e rather than a legitimate attempt to curb violence
- lobotryas 13y agoYou make it sound like CPS is the innocent underdog trying to do good. How do you reconcile that with the long list of criticism the organization has drawn over the years? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Protective_Services#Criticism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Protective_Services#Criti... ?
- jes5199 13y agoWow, thank you for a vivid demonstration of Poe's Law.
- makomk 13y agoDid you actually read the link? "The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services had itself been an object of reports of unusual numbers of poisonings, death, rapes and pregnancies of children under its care since 2004." "Texas Child Protective Services was hit with a rare if not unprecedented legal sanction for a "groundless cause of action" and ordered to pay $32,000 of the Spring family's attorney fees. Judge Schneider wrote in a 13-page order, "The offensive conduct by (CPS) has significantly interfered with the legitimate exercise of the traditional core functions of this court."" Suuuure, the only reason people object is because they want to be able to beat their children. Yeah right.
- msie 13y ago