Just What is (and what is wrong with) Political Correctness?

I really don't think PC-ness expects or commands you to feel a certain way, but rather requires that you perhaps express those feelings with a little thought for who will be affected.For me a lot of it is referring to people in such a way as to be descriptive without being derogatory.When we get into the realms of phrases like 'vertically challenged' as opposed to 'short' I agree, it becomes utterly ridiculous,however I think situations such as that are merely a right wing characature of political correctness and not any real, living value system.Edited by Creavolution, : spelling

I think you are mistaken here. This seems to be your projection of your feelings toward the PC person. You feel that they are inhibiting your right to think a certain way. this is not true. this is exactly the Characature of PC i was talking about.

My changes in bold1. Be inclusive, not exclusive.
2. don't make assumptions about people
3. Don't pity...I'd like to remove this one, I don't think it has anything to do with PC
4. don't judge people
5. recognize that modern society still is quite a racist society
6. recognize that modern society is still sexist in many ways
7. don't stereotype people.
8. have "self-esteem"I fail to see what is wrong with these sentiments.Edited by Creavolution, : No reason given.

true.. What are the good effects of ths though?
do you think we should try not to be exclusive? try not to make assumtions (at least incorrect ones), try not to stereotype?

So your perception of PC does all the things that Christianity does, but because it's not sanctioned by god (supposedly) the same principles are suddenly wrong.this should give you some insight into why a lot of people resent christianity

No one is saying who you should choose to associate with. that has nothing to do with PC. I don't know where you get that idea. Indeed, I agree.
The problem occurs when people make incorrect judgements, or judge on the right criteria. For instance.. Judging that because of a persons sexuality they are suddenly not suitable to look after children. Or judging that because of a person's ethnic background they are somehow less trustworthy or more evil than someone else.I see no problem with judging each individual on their individual merits, not based upon some Stereotype.

that's not stereotyping though.
If the man you met was rude and was wearing an eyepatch, and you then went on to assume every man wearing an eyepatch was rude before even meeting them, that would be stereotyping.
You would be making a judgement on that person based upon the fact they wore an eyepatch.That would be wrong don't you think?Edited by Creavolution, : No reason given.Edited by Creavolution, : spelling

Classifying an individual by their individual characteristics is not stereotyping.
Stereotyping is when you apply that classification to a number of people without actually being sure if they fit that classification

Stereotyped with respect to some preconception?... based upon what?the number of people is largely irrelevant.

1 is a number of people, so is 2 ..so is 3... the point remains the same.
I am Irish, so is Iano, is it reasonable to assume that I am evangelical or that Iano is agnostic based upon your experience of either one of us?
No. It's not even remotely intelligent. It's lazy and should be avoided. you can think what the hell you like, but you would be wrong to treat one or other of us based upon your limited experience. I disagree.. I think PC is more concerned with how you act towards people, not what you think.

If you want people to avoid prejudice, you surely have to make them aware of it?
If you want me to avoid driving into a tree you surely must show me what a tree is, so I can recognise and avoid it.still I do not see how your quote makes thinking and doing Inseparable.Edited by Creavolution, : inserted quote for clarity

No but it will have the effect of changing the preconceoption of that role and a predominantly male role. No. but it is a far more respectful way to refer to members of society. or do you think it's ok to call black people 'coon' or 'nigger'? But it is very important to take disrespectful and insulting references out of society so our children do not grow up thinking it is ok. PC does not paper over these problems, it makes an effort to remove them from our everyday life.what is your solution?

Are people not allowed to assert their Identity? if someone wishes to retain some of the ethnic/ansestral identity who are you to deny them?
whether they be of Irish decent, German decent, Chinese.. whatever.The point is, that retaining this identity should not become a grounds for discrimination. If you question why people should indicate their origins, why stop at 'american society' maybe we should all designate ourselves 'citizens of earth' and refuse to make any reference to our nationality at all?Your notion of ignoring a persons ancestral origins IS treating the symptom. putting your hands over your ears and shouting "lalalala! I can't see your ethnicity and refuse to accept it."You cannot pretend that there are no ancestral or cultural differences, you should celebrate the diversity, and ensure it does not become a grounds for discrimination.
trying to sweep these differences under the carpet does nothing to solve the associated problems

Y'see that's just crap... nonsense.That is 'Political correctness gone mad' for sure.

Actually you've put me in mind of an old spitting image sketch (possibly from the 80's)
it was three or four tory wives sitting around drinking tea and talking about politics.
they would mention things like sexual and racial equality and then shriek "It's all political corrcteness gone Maaaaad!"a satire for sure but indicative of the over enthusiasm for the political right to thrust the label onto anything that might be percieved as 'liberal' or left-of-centre.