On feeling sorry for people

Me too. We aren't all chatters. In fact when I do make efforts to be friendly they often go wrong. I'm likely to offend someone without having any idea how it happened. I once tried helping a blind person who was walking into the side of a building, tried to direct her around to the front door. She snapped at me as if I'd insulted her. I have no idea what I said or did that got that reaction. I remember it as her resenting my trying to help at all. Doesn't encourage me to be helpful in future. Doesn't mean I don't care, just means I am not socially adept at some kinds of interaction. Better do nothing than do something that makes the situation worse.

OK. There's a thread on PC, if one wishes to discuss it there. "PC" is a vague term, to be sure: hard to pin down.

This kind-of thing happened to me a lot too and I similarly stopped making any effort.Lately I'm beginning to think that the reason I messed something up by offering help or friendliness was because I had approached the situation with an assumption: "this person needs help" or "won't they be glad I helped them" kind-of thoughts. It probably oozed out of me like so much condenscending cheese. Edited by docpotato, : No reason given.

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The American Drivel Review

I suppose there's a need here for a stab at a definition -- which may be acceptable providing nobody takes first efforts as final.In my experience it has something to do with an angry moralistic response to normal innocent human behavior. In its purest form it has a Marxist framework that defines an Oppressor and an Oppressed, a Victim and his Victimizer. The Victim in the Marxist version may be a veteran in a wheelchair or any race other than white, or a female as opposed to a male and the like, but it varies quite a bit depending on context.The Oppressor or Victimizer is treated as unmitigated evil, denounced in the most venomous indignant tones, described as a Nazi quite frequently, although he may have done nothing more than blunder out onto a patio where some sad-looking veterans were sitting, feel sorry for them in the privacy of his own mind and leave after a few minutes.It's moralism extended into arenas it has no right to be, attacking people for merely being human with all their faults and bumblings, or attacking people for thoughtful opinions that happen to clash with the PC opinion. This happens a lot. It's not just a disagreement, it's an attack on the person.It's risky to attempt an abstract definition of this, but that's all that occurs to me at the moment.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

I cannot be held responsible for what you believe robin. If you wish to feel I criticized you then fine, I have no problem with that.Whatever makes you happy.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Well, congratulations on missing my point completely. How "socially adept" do you have to be to talk to people at the looney bin? They're in there because they're not socially adept. They may not have a tight grip on reality, but they can spot a socially adept phoney. It isn't about criticizing you. It's about the oppurtunities you miss - oppurtunities to interact with your fellow creatures. It's part of the experience of being alive.If your fellow creatures get something out of it too, that's just a bonus. Still missing the point. There's nothing "honorable" or "kind-hearted" about just enjoying life. My whole point is that I didn't do anything. I didn't offer money. I didn't pat them on the head and say, "Good dog."I just treated them the same way I would treat anybody else.Treating somebody different because they "are" different is a sin of omission.

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You are describing PC exactly how I would describe right wing christianity So in your eyes PC = Marxism again, what you are describing here seems to me to be a right-wing Characature of PC, nothing more. There are MANY belief/moral systems that attack others for clashing with their opinion. This is not peculiar to PC.My parents, for instance, are very un-PC, not malicious, not evil. But often say very inappropriate things, it's their way and was normal in their day.
But in no way should it be accepted.
It is, however it was intended, offensive. Pure and simple. the world to day is a very different place, and we need to adjust our behaviours to suit.Edited by Creavolution, : grammar check

Typical PC I want to say but maybe it isn't QUITE apt in this case.
Typical moralism of the modern sort in any case. Yes it IS about criticizing him. He SHOULD take such opportunities is implicit. He SHOULD want to "interact with his fellow creatures," SHOULD not pass up this "part of the experience of being alive." He's MISSING OUT. One of the Hundred Commandments, Don't Miss Out on Opportunities to Interact.

I am jumping in again.Now you feel that you didn't critize him. Him and I do.Question: Do you think what Robinrohan did was ok?In your post to him it was not noted that in anyway did you agree with his actions. The whole content was a - you should of done this/that and you would of been a better person for it - implying (without being a hypocrit) that you would of talked to these men. So I took that as an underhanded "I am better then you" attitude.When you obviously put more stock in one position and find a fault with the one he took how can you not call the criticizing?

Yes, PC, the purest kind, does derive from Cultural Marxism, but it has many other variations.In a way, yes, it is an aping and in some cases a reversal of Christian principles. You simply define homosexuality as normal instead of a sin and there you have it. If someone considers it a sin they get the moral opprobrium that sin deserves. This analogy breaks down quickly too though.But this gets us off topic.

The best way to "help" a blind person or a person in a wheelchair is to stay the hell out of their way. They wouldn't be out on the street if they couldn't take care of themselves.Everybody needs help sometimes, able-bodied or not - but it's best to wait for them to ask. I have often been asked for help by blind people, people in wheelchairs, etc.
Maybe I'm just a helpful-looking guy. If they don't ask, I assume that:

1. they dont need help
2. somebody else will help them (and take the flak if they don't want help).

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If that's Political Correctness, I'm all for it.

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Totally agree.Edited by NeuroCycle, : format edit

Any time now, I guess.

Was it okay? Sure. He is robin. Right, I don't agree with his actions. All I did was present an alternative series of actions. I believe this is a discussion board. When someone starts a thread usually it is to discuss the contents of the opening post.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion