A fine example of PC at its best can be found here :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintin_in_the_Congo

enjoy, especially the sales figures.

onzestan

onzestan... Look out for the "unofficial" TinTin in Thailand./

I'm not allowed to upload it here, or post a link to it, but I think I can recommend you search for it, without being speciific.

Raro, Very much agreed woth your sig, and good ol' bob..... , except that I wouldn't say Nazi.

I would say the communist ideal, in so far as the gov't perpetration upon our freedom, as opposed to the idealistic ideal, as shown by communist nations in the past fifty- sixty years.

Raro, Very much agreed woth your sig, and good ol' bob..... , except that I wouldn't say Nazi.

I would say the communist ideal, in so far as the gov't perpetration upon our freedom, as opposed to the idealistic ideal, as shown by communist nations in the past fifty- sixty years.

Nazis....communists...after all both were dictatorships were the freedom of mind was restricted. The PC brigade does something similar by not allowing to call a spade a spade. Hence, Geldof's comparison is valid IMHO.

True Story: Before my current incarnation ( thus over twenty years ago ) I was employed by the Inner London Probation Service and packed off to Birmingham Uni to do the academic bit. The office decided that gender in general was not PC, so the clown in charge removed all the male/female signs from the toilets in the building. Larf ? I nearly bought a round. Great fun waiting for the screams as the neds took full advantage and wandered into the " Ladies", whenever possible.

A large proportion of those who complain about 'political correctness gone mad' are those who've just been obliged to accept that it's no longer acceptable to sneer at women/niggers/<deleted>/queers/insert your choice of minority group here. They're more often than not middle-aged middle-class white men who have previously assumed that the world is run for their benefit. Long may they whine and squirm. The world no longer belongs to them alone.

Endure,

That is absolute cods-wallop.

Yes, there are characters such as those you describe; no argument there.

What you refer to however is what most people would deem a code of moral behaviour.

If you've been offended by the sort of behaviour you describe, then you have my sympathy, but that isn't what I'm discussing on this thread.

P.C is exactly what it stands for. POLITICALly "correct" behaviour.

Please make that distinction.

Moral behaviour, if anything, has probably improved greatly since the sixties, broadly speaking (Can I use the word "broadly"? )

It would be good to get some more examples of cases where Political Correctness has gone a bit mad.

Seonai mentioned window blinds,

Soundman said, "To repress animal instinct & make humanoidal drones"

BoJ said "to eradicate free speech"

Meadish perhaps so far has elaborated the most when he says, "PC is in itself a buzzword and a cliché originally used to score political points.

The basic objective of trying to avoid being offensive is to try to reduce friction between people.

The usage of the word PC is in itself often an attempt to discredit people who want others to be more considerate to each other.

It is true that catching somebody out with being offensive can be used as a tool to suppress that person's views though, and this side of it is usually negative."

Next?

Endure: Although you may be not far off the target with your generalization, I can assure you that even though I fit into the category middle-class middle-aged white man I do not sneer on minorities.

However, I reserve the right to call a person of African descent "black" and not "African American" as it is a) correct, shorter and c) I don't want to be called "European Thai" either...

This is a non-offensive post.

A large proportion of those who complain about 'political correctness gone mad' are those who've just been obliged to accept that it's no longer acceptable to sneer at women/niggers/<deleted>/queers/insert your choice of minority group here. They're more often than not middle-aged middle-class white men who have previously assumed that the world is run for their benefit. Long may they whine and squirm. The world no longer belongs to them alone.

The majority middle aged and white....................mmmmmmmmmm.

The Chinese look down on just about everybody, the Indians have their "caste" system, the ethnic Malay hate the Chinese and so it goes on. The folk who seem to have invented the "PC" culture may have had middle aged white people in mind when they designed it, but sadly when doing so ignored the rest of the worlds obvious bigotry helping to perpetuate the system they claim to dispise.

I shall never forget trying to help a very old Polish gentleman approach " The Crypt" organization in Wolverhampton for funds for an OAP Polish club on the outskirts of the town. During the war many thousands of brave Poles gave their lives defending the UK. Many of then after the war settled around the bases they had served in, W'ton having a great many of Polish Airmen in the community. The " Crypt" was the "PC" social group set up by the authorities to organize the funds for the then town's ethnic groups. Surprise, surprise it was run and administered by some very radical ' persons of colour". When the dignified Polish gentleman in his broken English stated the case for help in maintaining a local hall where he and the elderly Polish community gathered to talk about old times and play the odd game of dominos, the good men appointed to help in such matters openly laughed in his face, one going as far as to admit he stood no chance being " white" and needing help. Now I know it is not PC to admit that anyone other than a white male can be a racial bigot, but sue me, I just did.

Endure: Although you may be not far off the target with your generalization, I can assure you that even though I fit into the category middle-class middle-aged white man I do not sneer on minorities.

However, I reserve the right to call a person of African descent "black" and not "African American" as it is a) correct, shorter and c) I don't want to be called "European Thai" either...

This is a non-offensive post.

I'm a middle (well slightly more than middle) aged man myself - I'm not making blanket accusations against sections of society - after all that would be PC

I'm just saying that some accusations of PCness derive from the fact that people aren't willing to make the effort to move out of their comfort zones and confront a society that didn't exist for them 10/20/30 years ago.

Endure I agree with the basic premise of what you are saying but PC has gone mad.

I suggest that it has also become politically incorrect today to be patriotic. Recall when England won the rugby world cup and many English fans proudly flew the flag of St George from their homes. Only to be told to cease and desist by the local councils because that it was not a politically correct thing to do!!!

So you see its gone beyond being merely sensitive to 'minority groups', the PC movement is going overboard.

Now that there are so many minority groups that must be catered to, countries are losing their national identities. Consider two countries, one with a strong PC ethic, and another where being sensitive to minorities is laughed at almost all levels of society. Britain and Thailand. Ask yourself hat makes Britain 'British' in today's world, and then do the same for Thailand.

Perhaps, this is the point though, perhaps the PC crowd wants to move mankind towards some aging hippy's dreams of a world without borders.

Now I know it is not PC to admit that anyone other than a white male can be a racial bigot, but sue me, I just did.

Probably have to sue me after this one.

That's the thing that has always got to me, it isn't a two way street.

It's perfectly acceptable to make a movie called "White men can't jump" but if you tried to make one called "Black men can't swim" I wonder what would happen.

Now I know it is not PC to admit that anyone other than a white male can be a racial bigot, but sue me, I just did.

Probably have to sue me after this one.

That's the thing that has always got to me, it isn't a two way street.

It's perfectly acceptable to make a movie called "White men can't jump" but if you tried to make one called "Black men can't swim" I wonder what would happen.

Nail on head Thaddy.

Endure, when you made your sweeping statement above, about middle aged middle class men. I assume you where p1ssed when you posted that

Now I know it is not PC to admit that anyone other than a white male can be a racial bigot, but sue me, I just did.

Probably have to sue me after this one.

That's the thing that has always got to me, it isn't a two way street.

It's perfectly acceptable to make a movie called "White men can't jump" but if you tried to make one called "Black men can't swim" I wonder what would happen.

Nail on head Thaddy.

Endure, when you made your sweeping statement above, about middle aged middle class men. I assume you where p1ssed when you posted that

Me? P1ssed? Surely not

Now I know it is not PC to admit that anyone other than a white male can be a racial bigot, but sue me, I just did.

Probably have to sue me after this one.

That's the thing that has always got to me, it isn't a two way street.

It's perfectly acceptable to make a movie called "White men can't jump" but if you tried to make one called "Black men can't swim" I wonder what would happen.

Nail on head Thaddy.

seconded!

Endure, when you made your sweeping statement above, about middle aged middle class men. I assume you where p1ssed when you posted that

Me? P1ssed? Surely not

ain't "pissed" somewhat un-PC?

That's the thing that has always got to me, it isn't a two way street.

It's perfectly acceptable to make a movie called "White men can't jump" but if you tried to make one called "Black men can't swim" I wonder what would happen.

Did you see 'White men can't jump' Thaddy? It's not a movie about some abnormal exceptions to the law of gravity applying to Caucasian males; it is a movie about racial prejudice - black people's prejudice about white people, white people's prejudice about black people, delivering the message that essentially, we're not that different. (The white guy in the movie is a very competent basketball player by the way.)

'The Gods Must Be Crazy' on the other hand, draws its comedy from Xhosa people having a hard time coping with 'civilization' and running in high speed through the bush to get rid of a Coca Cola bottle they believe was sent by the gods to cause discord in their tribe, a little like Benny Hill but without the dirty white old man, Jackety Sax, and the bikini babes.

Which is more racist? As far as I know, both are accepted movies, unless The Gods Must Be Crazy has been re-evaluated of late... which is possible I guess.

That's the thing that has always got to me, it isn't a two way street.

It's perfectly acceptable to make a movie called "White men can't jump" but if you tried to make one called "Black men can't swim" I wonder what would happen.

Did you see 'White men can't jump' Thaddy?

Of course I saw it, Woody is one of my favourite actors, I watched Kingpin tonight for the umpteenth time, thoroughly enjoyed it... especially the last line, it's gets a laugh out of me every time.

That is the entire crux of the problem isn't it?

We.

White, middle-class, Christian and male (belief system not important, just assumed)

Have spent a long time, a really long time, taking the piss out of each other, so long in fact that the minority communities started to take the piss out of us also....... and we all laughed.

Until that one fateful day when one of us dared to take the piss out of them.

And thus was born Political Correctness.

It's made the world a much better place to live in don't you think?

I don't know, your timeline seems a little... subjective.

Don't you think all societies, everywhere, have taboo subjects and words? Maybe what is now referred to as PC (which is really so broad a definition that it almost becomes circular 'What I say is PC, is PC') just is a shift of where to tread lightly? After the enlightenment philosophers who raged against the church for being the 'PC' upholder of the time, other values came to the fore - 'the good savage', 'children' took on a new role, as innocent, uncorrupted beings to be protected at all costs, and then, the ending of the racialist colonial worldview with the white man reigning supreme at the top came toppling down when it was taken to its extreme by the Nazis in the 2nd world war... and so, the new unmentionables became racial differences... and so it goes... on and on.

Nowhere' e'er in any society I know, has it been possible to say whatever one likes whenever one likes.

Freedom without limitations surely is just a pipe dream, just as much as the 'hippie utopia' somebody talked about above.

Theory:

Political correctness stems from lands where some people have too much money and spare time.

Who (segments of society) is responsible for PC?

What is the objective of PC-ness?

Discuss....

Political Correctness just blurred from Joseph Stalin's Political Conciousness

Let's list funny PC phrases/words (so that we don't get all serious here ) I'll start off with

Vertically Challenged = short

Let's list funny PC phrases/words (so that we don't get all serious here ) I'll start off with

Vertically Challenged = short

Britain has gone from the war on terror to Islamic terrorism and now called anti-Islamic activity

The UN's definition of hate crimes makes it impossible for white people to be the target of only the racial oppressor

folically challenged - bald

Third World = Resource Poor

Dead - Actuarially Mature

Dead - biologically challenged

Dead - environmentally correct human

Dead - living impaired

Dead - metabolically challenged

Dead - persons living with entropy

I am probably one of the most politically incorrect people I know and I know a lot of people

What I hate about it is that by making it politically correct you remove the personality from the situation. I dislike terms such as "my gay friend" "my hispanic friend" "my reformed drug dependent coworker" why can't I just call them "my friend"? Everyone here calls me a farung and I choose not to be offended by it and for the majority of time it is not said as a derogatory term but for some farung it is deeply insulting and they wish to be referred to as "non Thai national" which is my opinion is plain stupid.

A long time ago I had a serious clash of personality with my project leader - she said that my problem was "that she was a woman and I should get with it" I replied that "the problem was that she was stupid and should get over it" Not politically correct but accurate. My issue at that time was that as an engineer on an engineering project the project leader came from marketing and had no concept of the issues or scale of work to be done.

In Australia it is illegal to smoke in a pub because alcohol comes under the classification of food and deprives people who don't smoke access to the same pub - I have never smoked in my life but believe that those people who wish to smoke should be allowed to do so. It is a legal activity and governments who in the height of hypocracy demand the tax dollars for it be refuse the smoker who has bought the product the right to use them.

Similarly it is against the rules to serve alcohol to anyone who may be affected by it (responsible serving of alcohol act).

Cannot refer to blackboards (chalkboards) or used the term niggardly because it is racist.

I believe that all people should be treated as individuals and as you would like yourself to be treated. Some people of all races and types are ratbags and should be treated as such. Also most people are basically nice and good to be with so the colour of their skin, origin of their birth, political alignment, or faith should be irrespective of the fact.

CB

I believe that all people should be treated as individuals and as you would like yourself to be treated. Some people of all races and types are ratbags and should be treated as such. Also most people are basically nice and good to be with so the colour of their skin, origin of their birth, political alignment, or faith should be irrespective of the fact.

CB

The luck of being born into a multi-cultural country CB.

Very common to find this outlook amongst us un-politically correct Aussies. Avoid making a total wanke_r out of one's self & she'll be right mate.

I'm deeply offended by your use of the term "wanke_r" in a derogatory manner.

I and most people I know have regularly "wanked" in our lives and do not wish to be deemed in such an derogatory manner.

Please make amends.

PS: CB, well said.

Cannot refer to blackboards (chalkboards) or used the term niggardly because it is racist.

Excellent post CB, however, are you sure about the above? I ask as there are a lot of urban myths in the UK and the above are often included as examples. The reason why they are not wrong is that blackboard is a descriptive term, ie, a board that's black, and 'niggardly' is an adjective meaning 'ungenerous or meagre' (I know you know the meaning!) and so can't be wrong!

Other urban myths in the UK include 'brain storming' and 'nitty gritty' both of which are perfectly acceptable but I get people telling me that I shouldn't use them all the time! Still, what do I know, I'm just a stupid Paddy!!!

Cannot refer to blackboards (chalkboards) or used the term niggardly because it is racist.

Excellent post CB, however, are you sure about the above? I ask as there are a lot of urban myths in the UK and the above are often included as examples. The reason why they are not wrong is that blackboard is a descriptive term, ie, a board that's black, and 'niggardly' is an adjective meaning 'ungenerous or meagre' (I know you know the meaning!) and so can't be wrong!

Hi Suegha - yes the term blackboard has been removed from schools usage and replaced with chalkboard. The word niggardly was used in Australian Parliament by a MP in reference to another. The Aboriginal council took umbrage to it and demanded an apology for a term saying it inferred black people were mean or miserly. After a lot of political foot shuffling they backed down and the Australian Guide to English Usage has it as a "unacceptable" word.

Other urban myths in the UK include 'brain storming' and 'nitty gritty' both of which are perfectly acceptable but I get people telling me that I shouldn't use them all the time! Still, what do I know, I'm just a stupid Paddy!!!

There have been many cases in Australia over the years to outlaw any word that can been regarded as racist or derogatory. To be honest I agree with that because I don't like such terms. Interestingly there are two that are perfectly acceptable because they have been shown to be terms of endearment. These are "pommy bastard" and "sheep shaggin' dole bludgin' kiwi bastard" So next time an Australian calls it out to a person of English or New Zealand origin remember it is because we like you.

CB

Cannot refer to blackboards (chalkboards) or used the term niggardly because it is racist.

Excellent post CB, however, are you sure about the above? I ask as there are a lot of urban myths in the UK and the above are often included as examples. The reason why they are not wrong is that blackboard is a descriptive term, ie, a board that's black, and 'niggardly' is an adjective meaning 'ungenerous or meagre' (I know you know the meaning!) and so can't be wrong!

Hi Suegha - yes the term blackboard has been removed from schools usage and replaced with chalkboard. The word niggardly was used in Australian Parliament by a MP in reference to another. The Aboriginal council took umbrage to it and demanded an apology for a term saying it inferred black people were mean or miserly. After a lot of political foot shuffling they backed down and the Australian Guide to English Usage has it as a "unacceptable" word.

Other urban myths in the UK include 'brain storming' and 'nitty gritty' both of which are perfectly acceptable but I get people telling me that I shouldn't use them all the time! Still, what do I know, I'm just a stupid Paddy!!!

There have been many cases in Australia over the years to outlaw any word that can been regarded as racist or derogatory. To be honest I agree with that because I don't like such terms. Interestingly there are two that are perfectly acceptable because they have been shown to be terms of endearment. These are "pommy bastard" and "sheep shaggin' dole bludgin' kiwi bastard" So next time an Australian calls it out to a person of English or New Zealand origin remember it is because we like you.

CB

Tsk

We from the sainted isle accept you for what you are. Now off to bed before you get a headache. All this thinking has never set well with you ex-colonists, you'll only end up with yet another nose bleed.

Ignorant- factually unencumbered, Incompetent- Uniquely proficient, Lazy- Motivationally dispossessed, Road Kill- Vehicularly Compressed Maladapted Life Form, Wrong- Differently logical

http://www.pcphrases.com/

There have been many cases in Australia over the years to outlaw any word that can been regarded as racist or derogatory. To be honest I agree with that because I don't like such terms. Interestingly there are two that are perfectly acceptable because they have been shown to be terms of endearment. These are "pommy bastard" and "sheep shaggin' dole bludgin' kiwi bastard" So next time an Australian calls it out to a person of English or New Zealand origin remember it is because we like you.

CB

Tsk

We from the sainted isle accept you for what you are. Now off to bed before you get a headache. All this thinking has never set well with you ex-colonists, you'll only end up with yet another nose bleed.

Thanks you pommy bastard good mate type fella

CB

Ignorant- factually unencumbered, Incompetent- Uniquely proficient, Lazy- Motivationally dispossessed, Road Kill- Vehicularly Compressed Maladapted Life Form, Wrong- Differently logical

http://www.pcphrases.com/

Very funny link...