Politically Correct?

Harsh contrast in views.

Example A: PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) - A teacher who forced a pupil to write "I am a retard" 100 times was acquitted by an Italian court on Wednesday of abuse charges.

Example B: LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is proposing to remove the term "prostitute" from the criminal statutes because it carries too much stigma.

It's not OK to call a prostitute a prostitute, but it is OK to call a child a retard?

 

Yes they are, I said Harsh contrasts. Also, these are European examples so why the shot at the US?
I'm not trying to pick on Europe I just thought this to be odd.

 

Re "child abuse" acquittal matter: can't comment without sighting court transcript that would outline circumstances/conditions/court reasoning.

Re "prostitute": that's currently only a proposal to change wording from a statute dating back to the 19th century based on a government report. What needs to be examined is the historical content of the law and its enforcement before a change is considered.

 

@legalsuit

Good call, child abuse may have been too harsh. But hopefully the decision doesn't permit for further behavior to continue.

@LauraR
It is the little things like an offhand post (by me) that can just set someone off, lol.

 

The whole world is going :mad

Politically correctness just keeps the authorities in a job

 

All this pc nonsense, it's a complete load of toss. It's been hijacked by do gooders so they've got an excuse to have a power trip. The crazy thing about it is that the so called 'pc brigade', as it is referred to in the UK press, is faceless, anonymous, and whoever they are, no-one got the chance to vote for them.

I think what I like, and use whatever words I think are appropriate when I'm describing people or situations, and accept no responsibillity for what anyone else thinks about it. And I respect everyone elses right to do the same.

 

Grumbles, re proposal on statute change "to remove term 'prostitute' from criminal statutes', because it carries "too much stigma" is only one of the reasons . There's more to it than the common label of "political correctness" and just keeping "authorities in a job".

Statutes do go through and need reviews, particularly when dating back to the 1800s! Historical content of the law (ie why the term was applied initially) and its enforcement has to be examined, hence the proposal.

It's just a matter of ensuring laws remains current...law reviews and statute updates/amendments are a necessity other wise we'll all still be living in the dark ages. Unfortunately such a task is time consuming, hence the common belief of keeping "authorities in a job".

 

Interesting thread.
But as you know things will get worse before they get better.
imho
JOHN

 

I'm not a fan of political correctness in any form, it is a form of insidious censorship that does much more harm than good.

I'm also a believer of cleaning up your neighborhood first (starting with your back yard). I won't take shots at EU (OK, not many at least), but the USA is my turf, and is fair game since I'm a responsible citizen. As an outsider and from what little I see, the EU has more of a problem with this than the USA, but both entities have the issue. Censorship will create more evils than unpopular opinions and phrasing ever will.

 

Evolution of Teaching Math in the United States & Political Correctness

Last week I purchased a burger and fries at McDonalds for $3.58

The counter girl took my $4.00 and I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies. While looking at the screen on her register, I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this?

Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1960s...

Teaching Math In 1960
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80.
What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80.
Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In 1990
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80
and his profit is $20 Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math In 2000
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question:
How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes?
(There are no wrong answers.)

 

@BCGray

Sad but largly true . . . lol

I like old books - and one of my oldest is a Ray's Algebra book published in 1848, and meant for 6th graders. I was amazed at how much more advanced that material was then what my kids were doing in 6th grade.

I despise political correctness - it is a runaway form of censorship that is disturbing in it's prevalence and is very one-sided in it's targets.

 

I agree 100%, and would love to kick Hillary Clinton in the nuts for making it mainstream.

 

'Political Correctness' and hypersensitivity to it, or projected hypersensitivity can be just another form of manipulation and control. E.G.:-The former Soviet Union used it to great effect, by pretending to be outraged at any derogatory remark, during the cold war era, when in reality, when the chips were down, they couldn't care less, unless forced to act differently.

We get a similar scaled down version today, in each of our own countries and on a personal level. What better way to control someone, than to pretend total outrage when someone else says something you don't want them to say. Now, intentional insults are another matter, entirely.

 

Well said, indeed.

 

The "where there's blame there's a claim" campaigners. As people started to realize they could sue for these things, it grew and grew until now it is spiralling out of control. Discrimination used to be about skin color - now it is pretty much about everything you can possibly think of. And everywhere you can think of, not just in the corporate cultures. We used to have a HR Director who would not allow us to say to each other "Hey girls" as it was derogatory. So now I say "Hey guys" roflmao. The really silly thing? They cannot address these issues with me as I am British and that would be discriminatory roflmao

 

I believe "whore" is still acceptable, but I'm not sure...

 

Removing prostitute from the statutes is crazy. Good grief...it is a biblical term and used so that we don't have to resort to more insulting words that have developed over years. So next we cannot correctly refer to an illegitimate child as a bastard; again a biblical and legitimate term.

Political correctness is also a harsh restriction born out of the much more casual language creeping into today's society. It's kind of a battale of the 'Culture Gnerations' to hold on to "values" that the younger generations today don't have knowledge of and therefore understand. So in effect, political correctness is nothing more than hypocrisy because it is discriminating against the younger generation's life culture. Isn't Political Correctness meant to be eliminating discrimination, not creating it.

 

Not true Lev, in fact the Hebrew words from which the King James version translated to both "Prostitute" and "Bastard" were a description of peoples, and were way more derogatory than the King James Translations. Oh! and an aside how does the "Bible" legitimize a word!!!, and whose translation do you use to justify that. I seem to remember "Supreme Court" rulings in many countries, that say that that is not true.

In days gone by we called African Slaves the "N" word, now its North American Africans, either phrase when said with Hatered, has the same affect. The words do not matter it is the way in which we say them that causes the problem. Tolerance has never been Humankinds strongest suite, just look at what the "Biblical People" residing in the Middle East are doing to each other, not to much tolerance there.

What ever happened to the childhood saying "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me"

 

As said, it depends entirely on the culture and region/ethnicity of the local populace. "Prostitute" is not a derogatory term, it's just a statement of one may be.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution

Also, the term 'prostitute', can have other connotations outside of this. The so-called "stigma", stereotyping is an entirely individual perception. A bit like the 'Nerd'/'Geek' thread. Some say it's derogatory, others think it's a compliment. I choose to take it as a compliment, usually.

I spent my college years in Calif, so I often use U.S. terminology without even thinking, and get a strange look at times from the locals. I can play the Aglo-American dual nationality card too. Most Aussies figure I must be Canadian, or something, ROFL! ~ So much for assumption.


B.T.W.:- Idiot, Moron ect., are all (obsolete) medical terms. So what's correct, then?


Seems the intent and demeanor is more important than the actual word, imho.

 

So true, BCGray. The Bible also speaks of and mentions every sin...but that does not make them proper, everyday actions in our lives.

 

Uh oh... I think I'm in trouble then.

 

That makes two of us. LOL

 

I didn't "justify" it - I merely made mention to the fact that they appear in the Bible and therefore have been terms used for a very long time indeed. I guess it depends on where you sit with the Bible as to how you perceive it's usage, and whether it has any stance in today's society at all. For the record the version I use mostly is NIV, but again, not really relevant if you are a believer and know God has the power to work in your life regardless of your preference of which version you read The Supreme Court is not a higher power than God \0/

 

Try and argue that point with them sometime.

 

But Jesus did say, " Give to Ceasar what is due Ceasar." Which I have been taught it means: "Follow the laws that we are given." They may not be good laws and if not, those that created them will have to account for them someday.

 

I think Political Correctness is taken a bit too far these days. You can't say anything w/o offending someone.. its a mess what state its in today.

Oh and we will ALL have to give an account for what we've done someday

 

And if you're married, you end up having to account for everything, everyday. Women get suspicious once you marry them

 

Your either a very brave man, or a sucker for punishment with that statement Quirk.............Me I am just going to duck and cover:duck

 

I can't help it if I look guilty. I'm usually not

 

Give a reference...don't just take a phrase out the Bible out of context, and give your own interpretation of that.

 

that can be a real problem here. not only is the written language devoid of the body language that accompanies speech, but there is also a cross culture of americans and british. the two countries have different humor. british tending towards the ironic, black, sardonic kind. we debase our culure, our leaders, and our selves.

americans (imo) have a more slapstick kind humor. lavatorial, visual, childlike.


what do you lot think?

 

yes (hangs head in shame) but the americans LOVE benny hill!!!

 

i wonder if the aussies have a particular sort of humour?

 

Mark12:13-17 The Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful to pay taxes to Ceasar. He told them, yes. (para-phrased)
I took nothing out of context nor put my own interpetation to it. This is what I was taught.

Please, mellow out, Lev.

 

My humor is 99% sarcastic... maybe thats why noone understands when im joking confused LOL

 

Not exactly, it basically means, pay yer Taxes and what is due to the State (country). {Edit: And follow their laws, like you said.}

Rhetorical Question:- But what if Caesar is a thief? Ugh, I'm gonna cop it with that one. confused
~~~ ~~~

I hear ya. I have the same problem over here. Aussie humor strikes me as fairly crude, and more than a tad puerile at times. (The humor, I mean, not knocking the people.)

Then again, my sense of humor is considered a bit bizarre, by some - so whatever floats your boat, I guess. I still like Monty Python’s Flying Circus (showing my age here, even though even I was a you ‘un, back then). Ironic, black, and sardonic humor is my natural state.

 

Is Eddie Izzard considered PC? lol, I mean a gay transvestite touching on political humor the way he does is priceless!!

 

To be truthful, you are right. The Pharisees were actually asking Jesus that question to see how he would answer, as they were trying to "trap" him so to speak. He did mean that rightfully do what the "King" (or law) tells them to do.

 

I thought we were having a discussion confused

You bring up biblical valid points and I am not allowed to ask for a reference to see for myself its context?

What one man teaches another is fine if you were there to receive the teaching, but I was not at that class. Put with that I do not know you other than over this keyboard, or the stance you take with the Bible and your beliefs - it would be wrong of me (and the Bible teaches this too) to assume and not question how you came about that understading to gain my own understanding of your perspective.

Perfectly mellow....just enjoying the debate. If you find my questioning unreasonable, feel free to not respond further