Is political correctness a bad joke.
 

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/...ss-a-bad-joke/

Yet another example of controlling PC. Has it gone way too far now? Do we now all have to think and act at all times within the strict boundaries of PC correctness for fear of repercussions? Is that the kind of society we want? Would that not be a form of dictatorship? Should everyone who believes in freedom of speech now collectively stand up and say enough is enough?

As much as I hate to say it, in some ways, yes the extreme end of it has become a joke. I more or less agree with the end of that piece;

"One hates to even mention the old cliche about it being ‘political correctness gone mad’, but if not mad, it certainly seems to be on the point of being dangerously unbalanced."

Certainly, some things have started going too far, mostly in that people seem to be incapable of independent thought and consideration at this point and are just sheep following certain "rules" that have been set out about what you "can and can't say", and when.

Of course, the flipside can go to far as well. Far too many people have decided that the best solution to this going too far, is to go COMPLETELY in the other direction and have ZERO sense of appropriateness or social etiquette... and feel that they should just be able to say WHATEVER they want to whoever they want, at any time, without repercussions. We don't want to backpedal all the way back to the mid 20th century where racism, homophobia, misogyny etc. were all part and parcel of everyday life but at the same time, yes, it's getting to the point where it's going to be impossible to live any sort of normal existence with the complexity of it.

I personally feel like a good balance was struck in the late 90's / early 00's, started to get a bit daft around 2010, and since 2015 it's all become a bit of a farce.

in order to identify if someone is a prick, you have to give them the opportunity to show it. Silencing someone doesn't change the way they think, it merely hides the problem

I largely agree with that, too. And I'd add that the only way people's beliefs change and evolve over time is when they're challenged and discussed... and if people are hiding their true feelings all of the time, how is that going to happen?

Very true. At least everyone knows who the ‘enemy’ is so to speak. Everyone knows where they stand. Attempting to hide it achieves nothing except perhaps to create anger, resentment and distrust.

I don’t think the majority of people would disagree with most of that as I don’t think most people think in the extreme either way. It’s about striking a balance with both sides of the argument having boundaries.

I agree with this. If someone acts like a prick they deserve to be called a prick. But and this is a big BUT... here we all are on a site with very strict guidelines about political correctness. Whilst we can call none members 'pricks', to call someone here the same would get us an infraction. The question I'd ask is, if we all think PC has gone mad, why do we use forums that restrict our speech?

I don't believe the majority of people on here get offended by being called a name. I think people use the PC report button on here as an assassination attempt... what better way to shut someone down!

If anyone is stupid enough to use popular social media in work time and make comments that could in any way reflect on their job or their company, then they are truly stupid.

Like the article says, you can say what you want in private to a friend but put that same thing on popular media and the entire world can see it.

Yeah,Speech should not be banned but everyone has a right to it.Opinions should be free to be expressed and challenged.That’s how we all evolve and learn.Otherwise we don’t live in a free society and repressed thoughts and feelings can turn into something much more sinister.
There does have to be a line.My opinion is that the line should be at where distress or violence is incited.
This woman made an apparently private joke.Although it seems it was not so private now.If people want to tell her it offends them then fine but when she gets disciplined for it by people in power then it gets authoritarian and dictatorial.People seem to have no sense of humour anymore.
Some of those US and Canadian Universities have gone way left.Students thinking they can throw their toys out of the pram and shut anyone down and even worse being enabled to.
Using violence and vandalism to no platform right leaning speakers because they ‘deserve a safe space’ away from opinions that they don’t agree with (or might trigger them),
Trying to shut down a conference discussing only mens issues and shouting rapists at attendees,
Trying to get university professors sacked for refusing to use ‘gender pronouns’ like ‘ze’ or ‘zir’.
Idiots will always be around but when the establishment pander to it is when the real problems start.

I agree with Bitontheslide and with Monkey. People should be allowed to demonstrate to everyone exactly who they are and what they stand for. Then we can collectively make the decision that they are... as BOTS said... pricks.

I think most of us were raised to understand what those lines are. Freedom of speech doesn't and shouldn't include loud mouthed sociopaths wanting shock value. There are keyboard warriors who don't know how to curb their gobs and use social media as a platform purely to insult and hurt people.

Being enabled to shut conversation down is becoming a real problem but being enabled to say what the ****** you want regardless of the consequences is just as bad and its the very thing thats brought about all these 'safe spaces and a broader PC climate.

Judging by another of your post’s to me I assume you are referring to me, amongst others, as someone who uses social media as a platform to insult and hurt people - if so, please show me where I have abused Muslims or expressed any abuse or harm to them - or is it a case of, like many others on here, you exaggerating for effect - collective exaggeration for collective effect!!! :bored:

Yeah the internet has alot to answer for from both sides.
The extremes from both ends are shown in all there glory and smashed together creating divisions and verbal and ideological wars.It magnifies Political differences and creates monsters.
I still find it weird tbh.Being able to access the opinions of billions of people you’d never have crossed paths with.
People get balls of steel when they’re behind a keyboard.
I do try and make an effort to not say anything online that I wouldn’t say irl and realise that it is absolutely futile to get into silly arguments on the internet with people I don’t know.

Excuse me? you accused people like me (people who speak out on behalf of Muslims) of being overly PC. I directly argued with you against that. I also said that you can very openly show your distaste to all things Muslim whilst having a level of protection on these boards.

I don't tolerate racism (and that includes anti-islamists for me) in my every day life. I wouldn't hesitate to pull someone up face to face but on here I'm always cautious and usually re-write what I've said so I don't end up with an infraction.
You can hyperbolize all you like on here but I'm not allowed to express how your words make me feel.

If that includes BB you must be a very polite person :hee:

That is very much a two-way thing, except perhaps for the chosen few.

Anybody that's stupid enough to post something like that on facebook when it can affect their work deserves what's coming to them.

It's not a question of PC, it's a question of common sense and this woman doesn't have any.

It's strange to see that your regular googling sessions have turned up a story from my area though, it's odd to see it crop up on here.

Well arguing about BB isn’t really arguing.It’s just fun:laugh:

There’s lots of **** i say irl that I wouldn’t say on here as i’d be perma-banned :laugh:

This place is pretty PC.

So the way to remove anger, resentment and distrust is to label the people with whom you disagree 'the enemy'?...

Unbelivable.

I would have thought that the reason why I put it in inverted commas was obvious. That is how some on here act as though they see others with differing opinions after all

Hang on, are you not the one who posts you tube vids specifically related to mocking what you consider 'pc'? on here regularly?

Oh I do that all the time, I go one step further and take people who share a standpoint, group them as a collective and make the decision that they are indeed pricks

Yeah,

Some **** is ridiculously PC.Usually hard lefties in US uni’s.

What’s your point?

Is that how you see people you consider to be 'PC'?

Sounds like you see them as the collective enemy! :hehe: