Being politically correct seems to be the subject everywhere we look - even on this site. Having done some recent research on the subject I agree with many that we are going quite a bit overboard here. My research is still in it's early stages but I am already getting pretty irate.
I wish I had it handy so I could provide my resources but I think it's all in the newsroom. I did read where the bible is considered "not politically correct" and needs to be changed. Had to read that one a few times - are they kidding? 
I also read several articles on how to make sure you are politically correct on college grounds and the work place. The best I can figure it out you have to make sure that you are always aware of the changes and preferences of society and people (which are quite often articles claim) so you don't alienate or insult anyone.
Where is the web site for that one so we can check it every morning before we leave the house 
But NEVER, one article stated, ask a person their preference as that could be considered insulting or condescending. Seems to me we are seperating people more than bringing us together with all this stuff.
I'm very curious as to everyone's thought on all of this....
We recently had to change the mascot of our college because it was "politically incorrect" as have/are many other universities and schools.
Samson (pictured with me) is perfectly happy being called by his name but he will accept the titles of "dog" "pet" etc. yet in PC language I believe he is referred to as a "nonhuman companion" Gee, do you think he really cares?
I am REALLY curious on what others think about being politically correct 
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Monsterboy
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Mar 24 @ 11:50PM
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Asking a person their preference (I assume this means sexual orientation) isn't technically un-PC, but it can be awkward.
First, it's a personal question, so don't ask it too casually any more than you'd ask, for example, how well they get along with their parents. if their parents were abusive, it could be distressing; ditto if they are not comfortable with their sexuality, or find it difficult for others to understand (especially the case if they do not feel they fit neatly into the categories of "straight", "gay" or "bi").
Second, there's the risk of non-out non-straight people having to choose between lying and outing themselves, and the corresponding danger of making straight people think they are gives off a "vibe" that does not correspond to their own perception of their sexuality.
A lot of what is called PC is actually not. I realized this while listening to George Carlin's "euphemisms" routine; a lot of what he describes as euphemistic is in fact merely a broader term ("the visually impaired", for instance, is not a PC term for "the blind", it's a larger group of which the blind are a subset; I'm visually impaired, but I'm not blind). "Nonhuman companion" needn't be a pet; it could be a working animal, such as a riding horse or seeing eye dog.
Remember that Political Correctness has nothing to do with the positions themselves; it is an attitude of imperativeness regarding whatever happens to be the correct position du jour. The positions can cross in and out of that list like the shadows of clouds on a landscape, and must be judged on their own merits.
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Guerrero
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Mar 24 @ 11:50PM
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Political correctness is the downfall of America. If you can't express yourself, and say whats on your mind, how the hell are you supposed to know what someone else is thinking or how they really feel? We're always told that we have freedom of speech ... BULLSHIT, we don't. There's no such thing. Speech is only "free" if it doesn't offend any group of people...
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kjac
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Mar 25 @ 12:19AM
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I just think it's funny that so many, in an effort to try to be hip or stylish lately, start bragging about how non-pc they are. That's being taken just as overboard.
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leefl
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Mar 25 @ 12:25AM
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I think its a bunch of bs. I think america has lost more freedom in the past 10 years than any place in the world. 
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highq153
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Mar 25 @ 12:50AM
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Humm...politically correct...(PC)...I thought the PC was a muscle?  I look at it this way;
Being PC was started by politician's. In webster's new world college dicitionary it describes a politician as:
1. A person actively engaged in politics, esp. party politics, professionally or otherwise; often, a person holding or seeking political office: frequently used in a derogatory sense, with implications of seeking personal or partisan gain, scheming, opportunism, etc
2. A person skilled or experienced in practical politics or political science.
To sum it all up...being PC means that you will do or say anything to keep your job. In the politican's case he has to, if not he would have to go and get a real job.....
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ChrisInCalif
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Mar 25 @ 1:33AM
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I find it most ironic of all (and sad) that college campuses would embrace the concept of being "politically correct". In the past, a college or university was a place where ideas could be presented and discussed openly and rationally, regardless of anyone's "feelings", and the debate would be over the merits of the ideas themselves, not over the "motivations" or "qualifications" of the idea's presenters.
Today, everything has a "spin" attached to it; every idea or plan is assumed to have an "agenda" behind it, and a "slant", and indeed the kinds of ideas that can even be discussed or mentioned publicly have been so narrowed for fear of "offending someone or some group" that it seems we may be weakening or losing our very ability to deal with the challenges in the world, the same way as sitting on a couch day after day will weaken a person's physical strength.
"Political correctness" is the same as seeing a vast forest or open countryside in front of you, and being told "you can explore anywhere and examine anything you see, as long as you do it on this narrow paved path we have provided for you".
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CMJAnew
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Mar 25 @ 7:50AM
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An anecdotal example of taking this to the extreme - recently a school district replaced the pigs of the Three Little Pigs with puppies so as not to offend Muslims. The irony - the Muslims weren't offended to start with.
Then, for whatever reason, you have people taking the individual terms you asked about and defining them for us in a literal sense. That, even though "PC" has its understood meaning in today's society. 
And you mention pets. That's more than a PC issue. The "animal rights" folks - PETA comes to mind - are very careful about their proposals. They want us to be animal guardians rather than owners. Guardian is not just a 'feel good' word. No! It is a legal term which provides the pet with the same legal standing as a child. Be careful not to support them with your vote or dollars.
It seems one can be polite and considerate of others with a little common sense.
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Martin666
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Mar 25 @ 9:12AM
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The whole idea of "PC" has been co-opted by the political right to have a negative meaning. Refusing to "be PC" has become a code word for the radical right that means "multiculturalism is a threat to the white race in America and the christian god."
Don't believe me?
Try this: everyone hates PC, but most people agree that using "inclusive language" generally helps the process of dialog between two widely different groups. But what is "PC" other than a way to find inclusive language to engage different groups in dialog? People object to the term "PC" but they generally agree with the process it represents.
Weird...
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ambient_silence
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Mar 25 @ 9:49AM
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Is it right to isolate people because of their cultural, ethnic, sexual, religous and physical attributes and preferences or better be inclusive. Treating people with the respect this implies. Do you wish people to treat you with respect? Is that the decent thing to do? Or would you prefer to be alienated and made to feel somehow inadequate? You only have to read a number of blogs on here to see how that hurts many people.
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trout77
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Mar 25 @ 2:33PM
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One of the things I hate most about the PC crap is the whole "challenged" idea. For example the PC people would have me think that I am "vertically challenged." This idea is supposed to be less offensive to me than being short? It's not. First off, I am perfectly comfortable being the height that I am. I rarely think about it. Saying I am challenged, however, implies that there is something wrong with my height. By being "challenged" that means I am of lesser value or that I am entitled to some better treatment because of my affliction. This is what I hate most about the PC thing... it creates victims and entitlement. I don't want special treatment for this or that. PC creates issues out of things that are not issues. If the PC movement has put me off over such a trivial thing as height, then I'm sure it has been much more offensive to those with more significant issues.
Really the whole PC thing just allows those who are professing the PC junk to feel superior and act like an elite. Also, by creating victims and entitled people, who are these victims going to look to for the solution? The all-wise PC elitist of course!
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