Comments on: Talking Right http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339 Always on the move Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:20:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Amber http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339#comment-271 Amber Sun, 22 Oct 2006 17:15:02 +0000 http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339#comment-271 ARBY - gotta disagree. People who offend by saying the obvious? Since when is hate speech - slurs and attacks based on race, gender, sexual orientation, class, etc. - "the obvious?" Sorry, but if that's what you're selling, I'm not buying. It's always been interesting to me that the people who crow the most loudly about the HORROR of "political correctness" are the ones who tend to either 1) benefit from the lack thereof; or 2) not be harmed by the lack thereof. The reason? Privilege. It's easy for a white person to roll their eyes at a person of color wanting to be referred to as, well, a person of color, for example. But you know what? It's not up for me to decide on labels for a member of a tradtionally oppressed group. And for me to dismiss their desires as silly or meaningless would be the height of arrogance. Some suggested reading: http://theangryblackwoman.wordpress.com/2006/09/14/things-you-need-to-understand-4/ and http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2006-03-08_146 Quote from the latter blog post: <blockquote>Your first instinct might be to dismiss words like "herstory" and "womyn" as "that PC crap". If so, sit back and think about that. Your privilege gives you the power to dismiss the decisions of minority groups, and further deride them by turning "politically correct" into a slur. Part of engaging in a language of respect and equality is in recognizing the validity of a person's choice to use language, and "politically correct" terms, even if you may not understand or agree with them.</blockquote> ARBY - gotta disagree. People who offend by saying the obvious? Since when is hate speech - slurs and attacks based on race, gender, sexual orientation, class, etc. - “the obvious?” Sorry, but if that’s what you’re selling, I’m not buying. It’s always been interesting to me that the people who crow the most loudly about the HORROR of “political correctness” are the ones who tend to either 1) benefit from the lack thereof; or 2) not be harmed by the lack thereof. The reason? Privilege. It’s easy for a white person to roll their eyes at a person of color wanting to be referred to as, well, a person of color, for example. But you know what? It’s not up for me to decide on labels for a member of a tradtionally oppressed group. And for me to dismiss their desires as silly or meaningless would be the height of arrogance.

Some suggested reading:

http://theangryblackwoman.wordpress.com/2006/09/14/things-you-need-to-understand-4/

and

http://blog.shrub.com/archives/tekanji/2006-03-08_146

Quote from the latter blog post:

Your first instinct might be to dismiss words like “herstory” and “womyn” as “that PC crap”. If so, sit back and think about that. Your privilege gives you the power to dismiss the decisions of minority groups, and further deride them by turning “politically correct” into a slur. Part of engaging in a language of respect and equality is in recognizing the validity of a person’s choice to use language, and “politically correct” terms, even if you may not understand or agree with them.

]]> By: Joe http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339#comment-270 Joe Fri, 20 Oct 2006 04:33:09 +0000 http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339#comment-270 Teashook - You're funny :-p Arby - I can agree with you, but not quite to the extent that you put it. The whole "politically correct" label itself can get a little out of control. Does it have to do with the introduction of euphamisms, or is it a necessary evolution of the English language? There is a bit of both of these that go on. For example, was the switch from "Secretary" to "Administrative Assistant" really necessary, or just a euphamism? My personal experiences in corporate America leads me to believe that corporations are drowning in euphamistic, "politically correct" language. On the other hand, why should I, a Jew, have to be bombarded with Christmas every year? If you really think Christianity is "under attack," try living a day as a Jew in America. In any case, political correctness is <em>so</em> early-90s! I'm, like, over it. <em>Really</em>. I don't think you'll find many on the left who really match the stereotype you're spreading. Not these days, at least. Teashook - You’re funny :-p

Arby - I can agree with you, but not quite to the extent that you put it. The whole “politically correct” label itself can get a little out of control. Does it have to do with the introduction of euphamisms, or is it a necessary evolution of the English language? There is a bit of both of these that go on.

For example, was the switch from “Secretary” to “Administrative Assistant” really necessary, or just a euphamism? My personal experiences in corporate America leads me to believe that corporations are drowning in euphamistic, “politically correct” language.

On the other hand, why should I, a Jew, have to be bombarded with Christmas every year? If you really think Christianity is “under attack,” try living a day as a Jew in America.

In any case, political correctness is so early-90s! I’m, like, over it. Really. I don’t think you’ll find many on the left who really match the stereotype you’re spreading. Not these days, at least.

]]> By: ARBY http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339#comment-269 ARBY Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:03:41 +0000 http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339#comment-269 Sounds like an interesting book, but I would point out that the left has its own version of this nonsense in the form of "politically correct speech". It is a form of contorted speech that labels people who offend by saying the obvious. They have even been successful in criminalizing "hate" speech in some places. In reality, both sides of the cultural divide are offensive to humanity. Remember -- NO ONE comes to the table with clean hands. Sounds like an interesting book, but I would point out that the left has its own version of this nonsense in the form of “politically correct speech”. It is a form of contorted speech that labels people who offend by saying the obvious. They have even been successful in criminalizing “hate” speech in some places. In reality, both sides of the cultural divide are offensive to humanity. Remember — NO ONE comes to the table with clean hands.

]]> By: Teashook http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339#comment-268 Teashook Thu, 19 Oct 2006 17:35:26 +0000 http://www.joeventures.com/archives/339#comment-268 Why do you hate America? Why do you hate America?

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