Two Quotations
Two things people said that I had to write down.
I've seen this process happen over and over all my life, and this is the most succinct explanation of it I've seen in a long time. From What Tami Said, 2010.
Disdain for "political correctness" is often positioned as a concern that some important truth is not being spoken for fear of offending someone. But that concern is nothing but smoke and mirrors. To invoke "political correctness" is really to be concerned about loss of power and privilege. It is about disappointment that some "ism" that was ingrained in our society, so much that citizens of privilege could express the bias through word and deed without fear of reprisal, has been shaken loose. Charging "political correctness" generally means this: "I am comfortable with my privilege. I don't want to have to question it. I don't want to have to think before I speak or act. I certainly don't wish to inconvenience myself for the comfort of lesser people (whoever those people may be--women, people of color, people with disabilities, etc.)"
I view this next one as a wider case of, among other situations, the above. And oh, I need it.
And when they tell you life is not like this, life is never like this,/life will never be like this, insist that the sun/has always found a time and a place, the moon too knows when and where to enter,/and you too have your stories,/and you too have your place. -- Shira Erlichman, from
exceptindreams, after this funny poem
I've seen this process happen over and over all my life, and this is the most succinct explanation of it I've seen in a long time. From What Tami Said, 2010.
Disdain for "political correctness" is often positioned as a concern that some important truth is not being spoken for fear of offending someone. But that concern is nothing but smoke and mirrors. To invoke "political correctness" is really to be concerned about loss of power and privilege. It is about disappointment that some "ism" that was ingrained in our society, so much that citizens of privilege could express the bias through word and deed without fear of reprisal, has been shaken loose. Charging "political correctness" generally means this: "I am comfortable with my privilege. I don't want to have to question it. I don't want to have to think before I speak or act. I certainly don't wish to inconvenience myself for the comfort of lesser people (whoever those people may be--women, people of color, people with disabilities, etc.)"
I view this next one as a wider case of, among other situations, the above. And oh, I need it.
And when they tell you life is not like this, life is never like this,/life will never be like this, insist that the sun/has always found a time and a place, the moon too knows when and where to enter,/and you too have your stories,/and you too have your place. -- Shira Erlichman, from
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no subject
What is a racist who expresses no racist sentiments, and takes no racist actions?
"PC" is at the very least, an acknowledgement that "I am aware that some things are totally socially unacceptable."
I don't care if someone hates Jews or Blacks or East Asians or whatever in their heart. I only care what the person says and does.
Similarly, on
The defense was that the mods weren't racists! Really! They didn't hate people!
Again: intent doesn't matter. Actions do.
A person who does racist things but doesn't hate anyone is a racist. A person who feels racist feelings but doesn't speak or act on them isn't a racist.
Edited: WTF!?!?! I wrote "bad-rprs-suck" in my post. It changed it to rant-rants. WHAT THE FUCK, LJ!?
no subject
Most of the politically correct phrases I hear are still conveying -ist messages, and that's what I was trying to express as *my* problem with politically correct phrases.
It's also my *only* problem with politically correct phrases, and I do acknowledge that in many cases, they are necessary and helpful, and I do not advocate for abolishing politically correct language.
no subject
no subject
Are you changing the definition of "PC" to something to narrowly mean "windowdressing on ugly thoughts" ?
I use words like "disprivileged" and "African American" (where appropriate). Are you saying that what I say is conveying an -ist message?
Check your assumptions here, please.
no subject
Most. Not all.
So to answer your questions, no, and no.
To clarify, nothing in this thread has triggered my feeling that "this person is being politically correct in order to hide an -ism".
no subject