Crap isn't it? We're not allowed to do anything in this day and age without being wonderfully politically correct, all inclusive and non-discriminatory. As worthy as this all is, and as much as i believe every person should have the same rights as another person (except Rapists, Murderers and the people that invented Reality TV) it drives me mad when there are things at work now where we don't get a Christmas bonus or a hamper because it is seen as forcing Christianity upon people. Or indeed that i get threatened by my boss that i need to watch my tongue and how i might offend people, indeed may face disciplinary action, for expressing my befuddlement that there is a 'C' in Chanukah... It's a world gone mad.
I'm a very accepting person, and yet when i call people up at work and they owe my company money, and they are not British, so often i am accused of pursuing the £2000 they owe unfairly, and that i am being racist, and that i wouldn't be so harsh on good old White Anglo Saxon Protestant people from the hives of Croydon and East Sussex. It makes me sad that there is such discrimination in the world, but it makes me even more sad that there are people so willing to claim exploitation against people who are genuinely accepting and helpful. It makes me sad that i can't say that, actually, i find Islam a bit wank, in the same way i find Christianity a bit wank, without causing allsorts of issues and upheavals.
What does everyone else think of this, do people have any opinions? Am i being daft? Am i just a fascist? I'd love to know,
I would probably agree that the course of political correctness has gone somewhat awry...
i wouldnt say do away with the whole idea, as language/behaviour that is offensive, born out of ignorance, is harmful to society. but at the risk of sounding like tabloid rhetoric (string em up, only language they understand, in my day etc.) it may indeed have 'gone mad'.
im sure everyone has their own personal experience, e.g. a friend of mine working in a cafe was told she mustnt ask customers if they would like 'black' or 'white' coffee because of possible racial connotations.
such examples show us that though the aim of political correctness, which i assume is equality and minimising offensive language/actions/behaviour, is very worthy, in situations where the non offensive nature is apparent e.g. black and white coffee, due to the purely descrpitive and coffee-based circumstances, its not needed.
its a very difficult one, especially because the same language can be either offensive or not depending on the circumstances/person involved. e.g, many people feel comfortable with the gay mockery of Little Britain due to the knowledge of the actors' generally liberal outlooks and the fact Matt Lucas is himself gay. however, when jeremy clarkson uses the word 'gay' in a negative manner, many of us feel affronted cos he's a bit of a bigot, and a pillock.
i think the key factors in determining offence are possibly ignorance, intention and context, as offence is subjective.
I agree with the disappointment at individuals exploiting ideas of 'unfair' discrimination to avoid responsibilities. Oddly though, I'd say that the Little Britain example is a bit of an anomaly. His 'only gay in the village' jokes may be funny TO HIM and the other people who understand that he is in fact gay and having a bit of a laugh, but I'm sure a lot of the people who watch the show, during that sketch, are simply laughing at gay people. I don't find it funny at all. I find it one of the most uncomfortable and offensive things I've ever seen on television. So, I don't watch.
But as D and Sally both said, it's context and intention that are key... It's a hard one!
Its all complete bollocks... how dare they destroy Tom & Jerry by takin all the smoking out????
On a seperate note, i agree wi u, I have 2 tell ppl they r 2 drunk 2b served or I.D them naturally I get accused of been racist, sexist, age-ist, disabilist & have threats made 2 me etc and in some cases glasses/punches thrown at me. Some ppl just like screamin wolf for the hell of it.
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Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
what we need it a good old fashiond tory goverment they dident care if you ware black white asian jewis or gay straight r bi unless you had a peerage you were dirt
Not technically true, the tories were ****s... section 28, ****s
__________________
Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
other than the scene, madonna's new haircut, sum random fashion disaster, ghd straightners breaking, coke dealer gettin sent down and the general 'he said, she said, they said' crap?
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Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
