Is is possible to be truly politically correct?

Question

No matter how hard I try I seem to say offensive or ignorant things...or I see posts on social media about how this society is ignorant and wrong that doesn't make sense to me. For example I saw that its offensive to call women girls and that "girls" shouldn't be in our vocabulary and I didn't even know that was a thing. I want to be educated like everyone says to do, but it just seems like there's so much to know NOT to say or TO say that it seems impossible. Is possible to ever be politically correct?

Accepted Answer

There's politically correct as in not being sexist/racist/homophobic/etc. - aka not using slurs, discriminating, saying something just plain insensitive; and then there's "politically correct" as in trying to please every radical group that decides something is "offensive" like calling people of any gender a dude 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

The only place I ever hear the term PC is here, or in my memories of the mid 1990's. 
Anyway, considering that we all live in a racist, ableist, homophobic, misogynist, cissexist society those values infect everyone of us. I don't believe it's ever possible to totally purge oneself from that influence, and 100% avoid foot in mouth syndrome. 
What we can do is listen to others (particularly from marginalized groups), constantly re-evaluate our thought processes, and attempt to hold ourselves to a higher standard of empathy.

Answer

Y'all.

Don't strive to be politically correct. Strive to respect the language that people use for themselves, be open to correcting yourself.

Much of this shit is hecka individualized. I, for example, identify with the word black. Others dig "African American".

The issue isn't that people misgender me or call me by the wrong racial signifiers or whatever the heck - it's that people aren't open to learning why I don't vibe with their language for me and are unwilling to even consider changing it.

And it really isn't that difficult to change language - we do it all the time. Language is a very fluid stystem. If you can learn the lingo for a new machine at work or a new hobby your kid is taking up - you can learn to say trans *PERSON* or "those assigned female at birth".  Trust me. I believe in you.

Answer

Um. I call women girls all the time. I had no idea that this was a thing. So many things that are wrong or not correct. Like oh my goodness. Me? I say Merry Christmas. Not because I want to be offensive but because that's how I grew up and that's what I want to say. Someone can say Happy Holidays to me or Happy Hanukah and I'll be ok with that because that's what they believe. And it's ok for everyone to have different beliefs!!

Answer

Is it possible not to say dumb shit, just because you can?

Answer

Jesus. Of course there's some words are ARE flat out wrong and some things that are not okay ever, but now a days, being "politically correct" is being offended over everything. I used to be like that, i was totally brainwashed by some other friends who I no longer hang around and I now have a clearer understanding of what ACTUALLY matters in the world. If someone is really that upset over the term "girls" they need to sit in a forest for a year and reevaluate their life.

Answer

Nobody can be 100% politically correct, but if you keep using racial slurs, anti-LGBTQ+ references, fat-shaming words, slang words against any group of people based on sex, religion, race, ethnicity etc. it’s reasonable for people to think you’re disrespectful. Just address people like they’re people deserving of respect. It’s easy.

Answer

Yes, but just like being an ally, it's not a badge you earn. It's a process. It takes effort to change with the times and evolve. If something is brought to your attention (like the girls thing), try to understand the reason behind it instead of dismissing the person as being "too damn sensitive".

Answer

I wish people would take a step back from a comment and try to fairly determine if there was malicious intent behind a comment before pointing fingers and pulling out the "That's Not PC!!" card.
I have heard that asking a person of color where they are from can now be considered not PC because you are questioning their origin and the question implies they don't belong exactly where they are ??!?.. I mean, is this what is happening to small talk?... seems over the top to me

Answer

Your poll options are misinformed. Political correctness is a concept. Just because you can’t be completed politically correct doesn’t mean people are too sensitive, it just means people have different ideas about what political correctness is.

Is is possible to be truly politically correct?

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