The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #106024 Message #2186340
Posted By: McGrath of Harlow
04-Nov-07 - 02:20 PM
Thread Name: BS: Are we becoming too politically correct
Subject: RE: BS: Are we becoming too politically correct
I think that last post might suggest that the answer is "No"...
But I don't trust the term "politically correct". Most of times I've actually hear it used has been from people who seem to think that acting and talking in a way that insults other people because they differ in some way from ourselves doesn't matter.
I prefer to talk about good manners and courtesy and being sensitive to others.
Here's a song I wrote about it, and posted on the Mudcat back in 2000:
Poison in Jest
Now there's a funny way of talking called "Politically Correct" - Silly fools who think that words have some kind of effect. Now that's surely not a notion that's entitled to respect - So I'd like to poke a little fun at this strange dialect. For when I meet some oddity I like to speak direct. No, I never mess around with being "Politically Correct". So I speak to them direct, that's what they must expect - No I never mess around with being "Politically Correct."
So I say "Good Morning, Mr Nigger!", or "How goes it, you old Yid?" The answers that I get, I find surprising. And I like seeing tins marked "Cripples", or "For Little Spastic Kids" - I think euphemisims are so patronising! So I speak to them direct, that's what they must expect No I never mess around with being "Politically Correct."
So, perhaps you are a Poofter, or a Gippo with a van, or perhaps you are a Mongol or a Moron - or perhaps you come from Essex, Essex Girl or Essex Man, and perhaps your name is Tracy, Wayne or Sharon Well, I'll speak to you direct, that's what you must expect - No I never mess around with being "Politically Correct."
If I'll call you what I choose, what's that got to do with you? It's not my problem if the words appall you. It's how I always speak when I'm talking to a freak, and it doesn't really matter what I call you. Yes, I'll speak to you direct, that's what you must expect - No I never mess around with being "Politically Correct."
And if anybody says that I offends, why then I just assume an injured look - my poor little friends, you must have lost your sense of humour. And a sense of fun, when all is done, it never should desert you. And sticks and stones can break your bones - but words can really hurt you.
So, I'll speak to you direct, that's what you must expect - For I never mess around with being "Politically Correct."
Now some might call it courtesy, or politeness or respect - But I prefer to call it "being Politically Correct".