Tony Zhang
How can I understand "Political Correctness" according to the western culture ?
2017년 5월 28일 오전 12:49
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10
Political correctness in the United States is a quasi-fascist attack on freedom of speech, a precious right which is enshrined in the United States Constitution.  In the style of dictators everywhere, the enforcers of political speech would allow no dissent, no debate, and no opposition to what they themselves believe.  Political correctness is a horrible, horrible disease which I fervently hope will soon disappear into the dustbin of history.
2017년 5월 28일
7
OR in less academic terms, political correctness is when people look for something to be offended about from nothing. In the UK, you can't say anything without people complaining that they are offended. It's extremely frustrating and out of control.
2017년 5월 28일
5
This thread evoked thoughts of a story that is a fond childhood memory.   "Melatonin Impoverished and the Seven Vertically Challenged Persons."  How's that for rampant political correctness?
2017년 5월 29일
5

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness

My definition is that, as used nowadays, "political correctness" means an excessive, artificial, and affected attention to using newly-coined neutral or euphemistic terminology, instead of older terminology that is thought to reflect race, gender, or other kinds of discrimination.

Here's an example. In a forum posting elsewhere, in a discussion of a financial product someone was thinking of buying, I said:

"I don't think that this insurance company is trying to gyp you."

Another forum member chided me. The word "gyp" means "to cheat or swindle," but it is a prejudiced reference to "gypsies"--an informal word for the Romani people. The idea behind it is that gypsies are cheaters and swindlers. Now, personally, I simply grew up hearing that word. I never thought of "gypsies" when I used "gyp." I used it quite innocently. However, it is now considered a politically incorrect term.

I could have done one of two things. I could have apologized and edited my posting, replacing "gyp" with the word "cheat," which is what I did.

Or I could have gotten angry and said "It's a perfectly good word. I didn't mean anything offensive by it. I refuse to bow to any silly 'political correctness.'"

2017년 5월 28일
3

Tony,  since your English is advanced, you might be able to understand humor about political correctness.  Political correctness is frequently mocked because sometimes it seems they go to such ridiculous lengths to avoid offending anyone.  Here are a couple of comedy skits making fun of politically correct terms. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0PZ31SF7rY  Blue Collar TV Politically Correct Fairy Tales With Larry The Cable Guy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eidz4JD7F80   Larry the Cable Guy-"Politically Correct" Christmas Story


2017년 5월 29일
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