Been thinking about PC.....

**BeSeeLisa** · 02-05-2005, 12:03 AM

No! I am NOT trading in my beautiful G5 for a PeeCee, I was thinking about "Political Correctness".

Here in Canada, we are very proud of our view of multiculturalism (as a Mosaic, rather than a Melthing Pot), and we consider ourselves, by and large, very culturally sensitive. Is there still racism in Canada? Ooooh yes....

I've really struggled over this issue, because it seems a fine line, ESPECIALLY within the confines of "humour", between honesty and offence.

Some things are just true--boys like bathroom humour, girls throw.... well, like girls, Asians have trouble pronouncing L's and R's, and lots of Irish people do eat Corned Beef. I often take offence at """"jokes"""" that rely on a foible of a person's ethnicity for a punchline. I'm concerned that someone "overhearing" might take offence...yet, am I being inappropriate when I laugh at someone making a self-directed slur (ie--something along the lines of a Polish person wearing a shirt with "got sausage?" on it, for want of a better example).

Here are two things I know for sure: asking yourself "If my mom were (fill in the blank) would I tell her this joke/want her to hear this joke?" is a really good filter, and the second thing is using "Political Correctness has gone too far!" as an excuse to not consider the harm words can have.

I take my responsibility as a teacher very seriously. I abhor racism, sexism, and a couple of other "isms", but I also have a terrific sense of humour (I think)--sometimes the human condition just IS funny. Those are the funniest jokes of all-- the ones that make you go: "Ooooh...it's funny because it's SO TRUE!!"

This little diatribe is NOT aimed at any one thing-- don't worry, I'm not that subtle. But I was thinking on it some today-- it is the pendulum thing, I suppose--the PC pendulum HAS swung far, but revelling in a backswing wouldn't be advantageous to anyone. There are some pretty funny jokes about car accidents and mishaps caused by women. It doesn't stop me being offended when I hear some oaf make a blanket statement about "#$%* Women Drivers!"

I guess I'm just hoping we will continue to be sensitive, and try not to be extreme just for the sake of being...extreme.

*thanks for listening*

Lisa

**Roy/SATX** · 02-05-2005, 12:41 AM

I suppose ethnic jokes in particular are sensitive in some quarters. Years ago, before there was an Internet, there were newsgroups ( and I suppose there still are ). A computer scientist recommended that ethnic jokes be genericized, by using the term <Ethnic> in place of a specific term for someone's ethnicity. The claim was made that you could not construct a joke using a real ethnic name that would have a different meaning than the same joke using the generic term. In other words, all ethnic jokes were generic, so no one could be offended.

Then a mathematician constructed a counterexample. The details of the are unimportant, but the punchline, which only a mathematician or engineer could appreciate, was "any system is unstable when all the Poles are in the right half-plane".

The Texas Aggies, of course, have laughed at Aggie jokes all the way to the bank. That's because they're not jokes, but true stories

.

**JohnBoy** · 02-05-2005, 12:41 AM

I detest PC. It bars us from seeking the truth, dealing honestly and objectively with serious problems and issues, and keeps Western Civilization from being all it could be. It directly infringes on my right to think and speak freely, and my prerogative to offend whomever I wish, as much as I care to risk to. Not to mention, it has Marxist roots, which I also detest. Having said that, no, I'm not going out of my way to offend anyone- but I am not going far to avoid it either.

**Bitsy Griffin** · 02-05-2005, 12:47 AM

Roy, I grew up on Aggie jokes as a Houston girl. I missed them when we moved, but still heard them, just with a different group inserted. They were never quite the same though without the Aggie.

No one over here knew anything about Baylor either. I was in absolute culture shock!

**Bitsy Griffin** · 02-05-2005, 12:48 AM

JohnBoy, Marxist roots! Now that you've said that, I'm wondering why I didn't put two and two together before. Seems so painfully obvious now that you've pointed it out.

**kds** · 02-05-2005, 12:57 AM

I think it is important to point out that we all probably have different definitions of politically correct, based on our own experiences, surroundings, history and circumstances. I agree with BeSeeLisa in my philosophy on political correctness. Also, I have usually thought of it as what used to be called "common courtesy" - CC?

So to talk about whether or not we agree with being politically correct, we would probably need to come up with a common definition. Otherwise we could well be agreeing and disagreeing with different things.

JMO

**Bitsy Griffin** · 02-05-2005, 01:12 AM

Very true kds. And it still boils down to the fact that as hard as we try, we will offend someone if we open our mouths often enough!

**jme** · 02-05-2005, 01:38 AM

What are your thoughts on the PC Pendulum?

Political Correctness has gone too far

We still need to work on antiracism and cultural sensitivity

I'd have to agree with both statements.

To me, political correctness is about arbitrary rules, made up by some self-proclaimed expert who has decided what someone else should be offended by. That is not the same thing as showing respect for and what kds referred to as common courtesy toward others. We can't walk around on egg shells all the time, always afraid of saying something wrong, but we do need to listen to others when they tell us they find something hurtful or offensive, and to consider what they've said before we use those words again.

Anyway, that's the way I see it :wink: