Political Correctness - Preventing Prejudice or Stifling Free Speech?

brummytom · 16-10-2009 11:43PM #1

Question's in the title, people.

So some Irish prisoners have been getting offended by 'anti-Irish jokes' published in a prison magazine - is it harmless fun or racism?

My brother was telling me today, with a horrified voice, that his Art teacher called a lad in the class a "retard". She did, afterwards, apologise unreservedly, but even so, my brother still found it disgusting. Now just 20 years ago, comments like this would have been commonplace in schools, and an eyelid wouldn't have been batted. Now it would be a disciplinary offence.

I wouldn't have any problem with people taking a 'pop' at my nationality or religion, but among some groups it would cause outrage.
So have we (I realise I'm not in the same country as most of you, so I'll extend the question to Western society in general) progressed as a society, and come some way to eradicating mindless prejudice; or are people just too sensitive about what is said?

TheTubes · 16-10-2009 11:49PM

The other day you wouldn't do your geography homework,
now you want us to do your sociology homework?

brummytom · 16-10-2009 11:51PM

TheTubes wrote: »

The other day you wouldn't do your geography homework,
now you want us to do your sociology homework?

I don't do sociology

I'm just bored... I'm even proud of the title, that's how bored I am.

Though in hindsight maybe posting this on a Friday night was stupid

My name is URL · 16-10-2009 11:54PM

Political correctness is a tool to keep you in line with the politics that rule your life big black Jewish lesbian

edit/- a big black Jewish lesbian with no sense of humor

asdasd · 16-10-2009 11:57PM

yeah. down with free speech. A bourgeois concept ignoring the realities of social constructs.

Up, instead. with banning stuff I don't like.

16-10-2009 11:58PM

Political correctness is being made to vote repeatedly until you vote the correct way!

asdasd · 16-10-2009 11:58PM

like The One Show.

EDIT:

s'example of stuff i dont like. Ban that!

EDIT 2:

cept the norn iron girl is hot,

EDT%IL

whatevah

Earthhorse · 16-10-2009 11:59PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IYx4Bc6_eE

brummytom · 16-10-2009 11:59PM

Adrian Chiles looks like a Bulldog

asdasd · 17-10-2009 12:02AM

Mary Harney!!!

asdasd · 17-10-2009 12:03AM

Stuart lee the most boring wanker on earth...

LadyJ · 17-10-2009 12:03AM

Speech is free but that doesn't mean that people shouldn't have to deal with the consequences of what they say. There will always be people who take offence to what you say so the main thing is to learn to be "appropriate" and know your audience. People are also free to feel however they want to about what you say.

Tbh, it is highly inappropriate for a teacher to speak to a pupil like that, even if it was a joke. It's just unprofessional. There's line between friendship and being someone's teacher. In any profession like that there is a certain amount of blurring of lines but know the limits.

asdasd · 17-10-2009 12:05AM

Adrian Chiles looks like a Bulldog

He does. A nice friendly bulldog with the hots for norn iron women.

KnifeWRENCH · 17-10-2009 12:05AM

brummytom wrote: »

Though in hindsight maybe posting this on a Friday night was stupid

That depends on whether or not you want answers along the lines of:
"Political correctness is GHEEEEEEEEEEEY. I'm pretending to be drunk so I'm typing innncoherererently. Generic MAry HArney comment." Though if you wanted an overly serious answer, I doubt you would have picked this forum!

To say something vaguely on topic, I have no issue with hearing the word "retard" but teachers shouldn't insult their students, no matter what term of abuse they use. Maybe the guy was quite stupid but she should have known better than to insult him in front of his class. I don't think that's being too politically correct, I just think teachers insulting students is inappropriate.

brummytom · 17-10-2009 12:06AM

He gives our accent great publicity though

Oh FFS, how have I dragged my own thread off topic within 14 posts?!

asdasd · 17-10-2009 12:07AM

"Political correctness is GHEEEEEEEEEEEY. I'm pretending to be drunk so I'm typing innncoherererently. Generic MAry HArney comment." Though

Mary harnry``````````!!!

shes fat

Earthhorse · 17-10-2009 12:08AM

asdasd wrote: »

Stuart lee the most boring wanker on earth...

Excellent rebuttal.

asdasd · 17-10-2009 12:09AM

He gives our accent great publicity though

thats cos he's the worlds happiest and horniest brummy.

brummytom · 17-10-2009 12:11AM

asdasd wrote: »

thats cos he's the worlds happiest and horniest brummy.

Erm... HELLOO?!!

Super-Rush · 17-10-2009 12:11AM

Political correctness is just spastic talk for gheys

ejmaztec · 17-10-2009 12:13AM

There should be a National Non-Politically Correct day, when we can all let rip. If it proves popular, we should make it permanent, to bring excitement and misery in equal proportions to our dull boring lives.

aDeener · 17-10-2009 12:32AM

brummytom wrote: »

Question's in the title, people.

So some Irish prisoners have been getting offended by 'anti-Irish jokes' published in a prison magazine - is it harmless fun or racism?

My brother was telling me today, with a horrified voice, that his Art teacher called a lad in the class a "retard". She did, afterwards, apologise unreservedly, but even so, my brother still found it disgusting. Now just 20 years ago, comments like this would have been commonplace in schools, and an eyelid wouldn't have been batted. Now it would be a disciplinary offence.

I wouldn't have any problem with people taking a 'pop' at my nationality or religion, but among some groups it would cause outrage.
So have we (I realise I'm not in the same country as most of you, so I'll extend the question to Western society in general) progressed as a society, and come some way to eradicating mindless prejudice; or are people just too sensitive about what is said?

well is said lad a retard? if so, nothing to be disgusted about

brummytom · 17-10-2009 12:35AM

aDeener wrote: »

well is said lad a retard? if so, nothing to be disgusted about

Not a proper retard... we had one shit himself yesterday, I think this lad in my brothers class is just a bit of a fuckwit

aDeener · 17-10-2009 12:36AM

brummytom wrote: »

Not a proper retard... we had one shit himself yesterday, I think this lad in my brothers class is just a bit of a fuckwit

thats not on so

IvySlayer · 17-10-2009 12:37AM

PC crowd are ruining TV.

Ruining everything.

Have a sense of humour and stop being so offended over nothing.

brummytom · 17-10-2009 12:38AM

aDeener wrote: »

thats not on so

What's not?

aDeener · 17-10-2009 12:42AM

brummytom wrote: »

What's not?

the teacher calling the student a retard when he's not

ShooterSF · 17-10-2009 12:43AM

If some people could just stop saying "That's not funny" and replace it with "I don't find that funny" we'd make great progress.

brummytom · 17-10-2009 12:57AM

aDeener wrote: »

the teacher calling the student a retard when he's not

Oh right, yeah you're right. Sorry thought that comment was aimed at me for a minute.

Can I mention one bit of political correctness? People are going to hate me for this.. but.
Basically, Birmingham is now 20% Asian; with some areas 90%. This might not, on face value, seem like a bad thing; but it has led to our pathetic council erring on the side of caution for everything. Asian families are not challenged when they break regulations - this isn't a myth, this is a commonly known fact around here. They will build without permission; they've built a mini-mosque in the back garden next to my cousins house for **** sake!

Now that sounds like National Front racist bullshit, but that's not what I mean. Because the council are too afraid to stand up to minorities for fear of being racist, it's white people who lose out.

That's why I'm against political correctness. Again, I'm not a racist; but I don't condone pussy-footing around people just as not to offend them.

17-10-2009 12:59AM

ShooterSF wrote: »

If some people could just stop saying "That's not funny" and replace it with "I don't find that funny" we'd make great progress.

So true, sadly they will be drowned out by the "that's not funny" crowd.

Some people need to know the difference between telling a joke and being racist.

tallaght01 · 17-10-2009 01:48AM

In my experience, the only people who complain about "political correctness" are the people who think we all want to hear them "telling it like it is" about various races/ethnic groups of people.

If more than one or two people think what you're saying is inappropriate (and you're not at a church meeting) then you should think about what you're saying a bit more.

Political Correctness - Preventing Prejudice or Stifling Free Speech?

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