What is your opinion on politically correct ideas?
Do you think they can be used to manipulate us?
I look forward to your opinion.
Politically correct ideas
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I think about the word manipulation. Many people think thats a bad word. But i think it is a good one. We manipulate all day somthing and the politician do it also. The only question is, how good do we manpulate something. And especially for the politicans is, is this what the people really need? Is this the right way?
There are really big differences.
Often we can only hope that our idea is the correct one for everybody. One we allways have to look for, if my friends and people arround me are happy, so is the chance good that i will be also a lucky one.
Simply: you get what you give
thats politicaly incorrect isnt it?
I don’t have an opinion.
We have to be careful when we follow a political thought. There is a lot of things that count,e.g. Especially at this turbulent time when people are getting more and more informed and sometimes overinformed and every one is experimenting with something.
Common sense should be applied to political thoughts instead of blind faith.
The problem with politically correct ideas is that there is one group who holds them.
What happens to those who do not? To those who SPEAK or WRITE about them?
Some places they get shot or squirreled away, out of sight, out of mind. Others may face economic hardship because of their ‘unorthodox’ idealism. Others (us?) make art and hope we’re not considered too subversive.
But most people whose views fail to align with the PC ones just get real quiet.
What a shame. Provocative question. Peace, Linda
Who or what decides if something is politically correct,
our politicians, the majority of the people?
Thank u for question.At least we hava what about think.But anyway there is no big diferent what we are thinking because we cant change nothin without being between them-politican.
I don’t believe the phrase has any meaning any more. Politically correct is a misnomer. Whose politics? Whose interpretation of correctness? When you put them together it becomes a volatile combination, especially in an era of mistrust of politics. The people who have lived here for generations have been required to adapt, under threat of punishment, to bow to the traditions of whatever ethnic group is the current “in”. Political correctness as it stands today changes constantly to suit one group or another. The group it satisfied yesterday is not the group who will be satisfied tomorrow. It is in constant flux and therefore meaningless. And yet, it persists in manipulating everyone who has come before, whether in the 17th century, prehistoric, most of the 20th century, or the current ruling newcomers of the 21st century. Racial prejudice has absolutely nothing to do with it. Many newcomers are finding themselves in the same quandary. My grandchildren are 7th generation in British Columbia, a province that is officially 150 years old, the same year their ancestors came to this “province”. And yes, those who came to Canada and the US were then the newcomers, trying to force their mores and religion on the native people who were here before them. Yes, we are manipulated! But once upon a time we were the manipulators too. Still, it has become such a convoluted mess that there is a huge groundswell ready to burst at any time in the next few years. I for one would prefer to treat everyone with respect but how can you respect someone who does not respect you in turn?
Sensitive subject…And so damn actual. It hearts every human been. I feel there is a world wide revolution to come, but on a different level, the one of believes and common sense. The failure of Bush presidency opened many eyes and woke up the hope of many slept countries and governments.
Everythink it will be ok.
estou conseguindo enxergar as portas da catedral, coisa que antes eu nao tinha forças . mas estou com medo de abrir e entrar….. o que posso esperar?
eu preciso mudar minha história, minha vida… estou perdida em um caminho cheio de direções…
There is a word: “Politicians lie to the people to lead them to the wrong, artists lie to the people to lead them to the truth.”
For me politics is nothing but theatre. Everyone has his place and role to be realized. The aim is to manipulate and rule the audience as the director/producer wants.
With respect to this definition,
“Also, PC or p.c. Showing an effort to make broad social and political changes to redress injustices caused by prejudice. It often involves changing or avoiding language that might offend anyone, especially with respect to gender, race, or ethnic background.”[1], is an open invitation to use ideas to manipulate everything from data to on the ground stories that seem to be a growing trend for the Net.
Anyone with a camera at the right place and time of an incident can use the camera for example to capture the event without prejudice and since we may see it on You Tube we are influenced by the video. However many readers rely on their trusted sources of news and since they report an edited version of the same incident the whole story gets skewed and therein lies the gap for the opportunity to propagate the manipulation of ideas.
So yes I believe that ideas can be manipulated easily and that we need to decide for ourselves what is relevant and true. The only way I know to do this is either I am there during an incident of violence for example and form my own opinion, or I try and find a trusted source on the Net which provides me with the truth and allows me to form my own opinion.
[1]Politically correct. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Houghton Mifflin Company. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Politically correct (accessed: January 15, 2009).
I look at this subject this way.
Politically Correct Ideas are expressed by Politically Correct Speach. This pollitacally correct speach effectively limits our ability to express what we really mean. By limiting our ability to express what we really mean we are unable to to express our real thoughts.
This is a vey effective way of limiting peoples thoughs by taking away their abiility to express themselves. For instance; If am forced to think of a person who is a violent woman beating alcoholic as a person “in need of special treatment in relation to alcohol” – I am unable to expess to women the risk they run from associating with this person.
However, because I developed my social skills and thinking pattens in a society without political correctness (Australia 1960′s – 70′s), I am able to differentiate the truth. Unfortunately children brought up in a politically correct environment will never know that level of freedom of thought and expression.
They will think their thoughts and speach are their own without knowing that their thinking and expression has been moulded and restricted by political correctness.
In 1984 George Orwell wrote the way to change peoples thought processes is to slowly change their ability to express their thoughts – Newspeak!
If you can’t think IT – You can’t say IT.
You no one can say IT – You’ll never hear IT.
If you never hear IT. You won’t think IT.
the question is are these ideas correctly political?
meaning:
what is correct?
does correct = ethical?
can we take “correctness” or “ethics” outside the eye of the beholder?
should politics be associated with correctness…
do we need to turn to politics to know what is good and just?
of course we all want to live in a society where the good and the just are reinforced by laws and to look at the other side of the coin, since we are normally so apt at criticising everything we see, some things have improved, albeit not for all since the Middle Ages, due to the recognition for protecting “correct” and “good” and “just”…
but above all correctness, as with correct politics, starts at home. in the larger sense home could mean home country. but i mean first and foremost our very own home.
to love and to care means to be politically correct.
Anything in this world can be abused in one way or the other, both good and bad things. To keep things on the good side is a life long struggle for humanity.
Best wishes!
Annso
“Acho que ideias politicamente corretas são exatamente o que a frase quer dizer e não são para nos manipular, se levarmos em conta opinião formada para entendê-las na sua essência e, assim, podermos chegar à nossa própria conclusão”.
http://poesiaemdegustacao.blogspot.com/
Depende daquilo que voce propoe como correto…
O ocidente judaico-cristão ve o Islã politicamente incorreto; já o mesmo acha o ocidente libertino e imoral…É a peleja de Yaveh contra Allah, only Jah knows who is the winner, somos testemunhas oculares de Jeová nesta refrega, que Oxalá nos proteja!
Politically correct ideas mostly end with the incorrect politicians, so that’s the reason why most of then can’t see the light of the day…there are few nice and honest politicians, but most of them are destroying our world, ideals and lifes…Should an example be given??? I think not, since all around of us the same one could be found. It’s a real shame how those politically correct ideas are dissapearing with the wind…
Political correctness often can get in the way of real help especially where disabilty is concerned.There are always a way to belittle and put into place the imperfect and the unfortunate.On other issues media create such guilt such confusion.
Where charity is concerned and giving cash donations.. I would prefer there to be a tiny chance someone in dire need will benefit than no chance…there for the grace .I have to trust in a good heart somewhere along the line, a passion to help, and the higher ripples of energy flowing where it might. What goes round comes around.
Thanks all for your opinions, in a vast majority they are also my thoughts. Politicians seem to be the same all over the world, making us believe they belong to a special club.
About political correctness, please give us a break. They put it onto the table to limit furthermore our rights. About the foundations taking care of the others: I personally prefer to help the people that I know and are in need, then sending money elsewhere. I know it might get into the wrong pockets. Everyone can go to the local supermarket seeing that lady that always sits in front of it, go to an asylum, orphanage etc. They are around us, they are in need, it takes a walk around to notice them. But money can do little in this enterprise. Love can do much more. Money is food for our bodies, but love is nourishment for our souls. And an awaken spirit can make the difference.
Knowing all that, we can take several steps, because action is needed when someone tries to put their hands into our pockets.
1. we can do without politicians.
2. true change comes from our hearts.
3. heart is the tool for love.
4. love and allow to be loved.
5. Love will do all the rest for us.
God bless!
La gran mayoría de los proyectos empiezan con una buena intención luego se instucionalizan y ahí se chava la cosa. Yo voy a creer cuando los políticos, por ejemplo los de mi pais, dejen aun lado dietas y carros lujosos por un sueldo mínimo para una causa justa.
Lau , Lau yes the power of the money exists in our world
But the WORLD economic crisis will also show that the money is not a stable value, and will open maybe our eyes on the other TRUE VALUES…
THE “EVIL” FOR THE GOOD MAKES …to come
HOPE ^ – ^
oui le pouvoir de l’argent existe dans notre monde
mais la crise économique MONDIALE montrera aussi que l’argent n’est pas une valeur stable , et ouvrira peut-être nos yeux sur d’autres VRAIES VALEURS …
un mal pour un bien fait … à venir
ESPOIR ^ – ^
Elisabeth delage , I see that checks conseisl of paul of Austria were precious and that we can see your BEAUTIFUL photo. Thank you and especially read your words
As I said it in another post:
To the monastery of Samos ( Spain) above the front door of the library of the monks, it is written in Latin ” a monastery without book, it is as a castle without armament ” and the monk who accompanies me to say to me: ” the words are our weapons ”
Yes the words, the words driven by the love have a strong power to make change things …FOR THE LOVE AND THE PEACE …IN THE WORLD
je vois que les bons conseil de paul de l’autriche ont été précieux et que nous pouvons voir ta BELLE photo . Merci …et surtout lire tes mots
comme je le disais dans un autre post :
au monastère de Samos ( espagne ) au dessus de la porte d’entrée de la bibliothèque des moines , il est écrit en latin ” un monastère sans livre , c’est comme un château sans armement” et le moine qui m’accompagne de me dire : ” les mots sont nos armes ”
oui les mots , les mots conduits par l’amour ont un fort pouvoir de faire changer les choses ….POUR L’AMOUR ET LA PAIX …DANS LE MONDE
ho i forgot to say thank you to paul from austria about “picture” sorry paul and see the sun today even through clouds or rain…
> Why didn’t you write the number 13 when it was due within your “Inventory of Normality” list on issue # 189, but instead you wrote : 12ª ?
Nice website! I really admire you, sire, as a great writer. Please help me on following your step towards becoming an influential writer like you… but in poetry. :)
there is a paradox to wear head scarves.it’s a good point.in some countries girls doesn’t go outside whitout,they don’t have the freedom to use it or not.it’s the low overthere,so if i go,i wear it because i respect their low.in france the girls can wear head scarves everywhere except in republic’s schools and if they work for state.it’s the low,not only for muslim, but for all religions.this the choice of french people,of their republic,to keep all religions.
Political correctness is when someone decides that you cannot say or do certain things, because it _might_ hurt someone’s feelings. A good example of this is, when the authorities forbid you to display Christmas decorations because they might hurt your Muslim neighbours feelings. No one thinks for a second, that this hurts my feelings. Or when Muslim girls in France were forbidden to use head scarves, because it is not PC.
Political correctness is often as stupid as is Zero Tolerance!
well just some words more,there is also another fight also still there,the misery,the difficulty for people just to live,and there are many kinds of misery,no freedom to be,this is the source of manipulations, some people are conscious to manipulate,and use this power,this anger to do the worst,some people are unconscious,they believe to do a right fight,in fact they don’t see that they are on a strange way.
Reading this blog is a study in intellectual pursuits.
Solo dire un par de cosas, por ideas politicamente correctas se mataban “brujas”, por ideas politiamente correctas se llevo a cabo el no tan Santo oficio, por ideas politicamente correctas han habido un buen numero de guerras donde mueren y sufren inocentes.
hi paul from austria, i think the peace is also a fight, a real big fight,but not with the same weapons,maybe with words,maybe to share thoughts,many ways maybe..well i don’t know yet really,i’m trying on others place,i’m not candide,it’s not an easy fight,because there are many people who like violence,they are ready to fight even for a ball!but i know that everywhere around the world they are many people ready just to live in peace, they need, we need more.the worst should do war to get peace,there was that already.i think we’ll talk about it again.have a nice day or evening!! by the way how do you put your picture here?? i didn’t find the way!!
Dear Paulo,
I am very sceptical wherever I see word that has to do with politics as I see politics as manipulation mostly and politicians as puppet masters.
Said this, “Politically Correct Ideas” are there to manipulate people and are used to manipulate us.
Who is a politician ? Man who decides to decide for us !
Luce
Dear Paulo,
In response to your questions I will try to be concise:
I think initially to be politically correct was to use language in order to avoid offense and now the term is used so loosely that by being ‘politically correct’ in one area can be considered offensive in another area. It is a way of trying to be fair. But let’s face it, life is not fair. People do not have a right to everything except to have their basic human needs fulfilled, such as a need for sustenance, and shelter. The rest is technically a bonus or might even be considered a gift, such as having children. As an example, I personally do not think having children is a right and my opinion would be considered politically incorrect by someone who might not be able to have children. I may have compassion for them, but really, if you look closely and honestly about what ‘rights’ we should claim, you could probably narrow it down to 10 items. I would put freedom and to be treated with consideration and respect and to expect no harm at the top of my list with shelter and food. That covers a lot.
If we are manipulated by ‘politically correct’ ideas (they weren’t my ideas) it is because people in society have allowed it. Perhaps because of guilt in certain areas and trying to be fair?
those people who wish evil as some expression of their own demons will do so either way. we cant stop those people who host those false charity dinners. but i say why dont we turn that on its head? Why can’t we have big corporate fund raisers that dont talk about charity, they talk about profitability, shareholders and everything that makes all those big boys happy. take that money and send it to charity. take the money spent on luxury parties, casino nights, tobaco, night clubs, and send some of that money to charity? Isnt there a way we can use this useless money in a better way? for education, for health, for poverty.
Charity in our society is a dirty word. people go for the sake of going, for publicity or to be scene. they have no responsibility to follow where the money goes and they dont care. we need a proper funelling organization that takes money people dont care about and puts it to useful life improving use.
hola amigos.
este asunto de las “ideas politicamente corretas” es mas una utopía que cualquier otra cosa. me parece que muy pocas personas en el mundo estan dispuestas a hacer el bien para otras personas y mucho menos a dedicar su tiempo completo a esta misión. ademas, las personas que si desean hacerlo no forman “organizaciones caritativas” sino que dan su grano de arena en su medio, con sus propios recursos y transformando una o dos vidas a la vez. personalmente no creo en ninguna organización caritativa grande o famosa porque ya me he llevado muchas decepciones. aún así creo que la ayuda a quién tiene poco o nada es importante para el desarrollo de la sociedad como tal y más aún de cada ser humano.
si alguien tiene otro punto de vista me encantaría saberlo. estaré al pendiente.
I know that one organisation (i don’t want to mention it’s name) is raising funds for kidsw in the third world. the person that raises these funds gets 20% comission fee and so does every other person brought in to raise funds. So in total that means 40% of all funds raised are being put into private pockets. And then on the other side, since this organisation does have a huge back office I am pretty sure that a lot of the funds are being spent for administration and only too little is going to the children who need it.
Another person I know spent 10Mio USD to the victims of the Tsunami some years ago and parts of that money has also been kept in private pockets.
One must believe that a lot of Charity Organisations are there to put money in private pockets. Makes me sick.
On the other side, do you Paulo have an idea on how to help children in the best possible way? To give them support also psychologically and spiritually? (Money itself is good but not enough I think).
I live in a very small and even divided country, Cyprus. I have friends from the school in all political parties. Some of them have been Ministers. What I have noticed and I have said that openly to them [my sharp tongue!!] is that at the beginning they were enthusiastic, full of good ideas and dreams of … changing the country and the …World. Then the System …swallowed them! They do exactly, more or less what their predecessors have done. They follow the …flow. What and who are the “System” is not difficult to find out. They are the same who have crucified Christ because they were afraid of losing their Earthly dominion, those who have killed Gandhi, Martin Luther King, J. Kennedy, R. Kennedy, Indira Gandhi but also all those millions ‘anonymous’ innocent people and children of the World.
How can we change that? First with mastering ourselves and thoughts and our little world around us. To seek harmony, peace and love, but never to allow others take advantage of us and use us as … weapons for destruction. We all know that the time spend on this Planet is limited. The journey must be a peaceful, joyful and ..a fruitful one. To enrich our spiritual self, our eternal Soul.
LOVE,
Thelma
I spend every year money for Green Peace!I want to belive they are honest and corect!My husband spend money for an old actor in Austria who create an organisation to help poor country in Africa(Somalia);he thought that this big organisation Green Peace ,can be manipulated from Politic!The last film 007 showed something like that.Actually I don`t now what I should belive!!!All the politicians are people like us;just the most of them ,“ sold thyer souls to evil“(methaforical).I think they are just confuse with them self:struggle to find out who they are and where they go,just lost theyr way,the Belive in God.
Let us pray for them,that God open theyr minds and eyes,and let us do like we didn`t know what they trye to do with us!To really manipulate us is imposible!They can not do enything if God don`t want!Let them that manipulation Power,it is just a bigger Game that serve to a bigger Plan!
Love
Mirela(the woman in lift)
I just had this conversation with my friend the other day. Why do we worry about being political correct? what exactly is “POLITICAL CORRECT”? I believe some mombo jombo sensitive person came up with term. Many use this excuse to disguise what is really real; if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck and looks like a duck well it must be a duck!
I honestly feel like all this walking on egg shells and making others believe this is the correct way of behavior is dead wrong and yes, i do feel like political correct ideas can be used to manipulate the unaware.
I belive there is, as with all things, a good side and a dark side of political correctness. On the one hand using certian terms to describe for instance an ethnic group of people or the gay community (as examples)…. yes I think speaking in politically correct terms is positive. Speaking in terms that are respectful sometimes works it’s way into peoples minds and hearts too making them more sensitive or at least aware of their potential prejudices.
The late George Carlin did a whole dialogue on euphemisms. Let me say first that I beleive the term politically correct is a euphemism. A euphemism for being, acting and speaking with kindness to all people (or so we are lead to believe). At times however, I think is very determental to water down some words or phrases to make them politically correct. One example George Carlin used was the term “shell shock”. Shell shock, if you just say the phrase out loud it has force, it has power, it describes something very powerful and the actual words evoke a feeling. Now say out loud, “post traumatic stress disorder”. The two phrases mean the same thing but one is more emotinally descriptive of the actual maladay….AS IT SHOULD BE. This is just one example of thousands where words are modified, changed, twisted or some new phrase has been created to replace an existing idea. So in answer to your question Paulo yes I do beleive that politically correctness can be used to manipulate us. It is amazing how changes in language can drastically change our perceptions of people, the world, and events.
I read a poem once that went something like this:
Watch you thoughts they become your speach
What your speach they become your actions
Watch your actions they become your habits
Watch your habits they become your character.
Political correctness is an idea that has reached our speach. Eventually it could become our character. It is once again one of those things that is a double edged sword..one side for truth and love and worth the good fight. The other side to be used to sway the masses into beliveing and supporting a malicious motive.
talking about fund raising and donations,,, the world and society is built part of it from this source of help, and when it comes to help others we always think that by helping others, we can help to save situation and have a better world, Many fund s r built of a lot of coruption,,, and we the simple honest ones just dont know sometimes to whom we should give and when we see in the t.v places who really r in need we feel like helping,
its important for us to get to see and open our eyes, but we should try to find out 1st were the money or medicine etc really goes….
if the question is it is correct? that kind of manipulation? its not, but we still have to know that so many places around the world need help and by manipulation,,,,,we open our hearts,,,,,
so sometimes un fairness also works in society!!!!!!! lol
In my experience political correctness is another expression of fear, but instead of dealing with those parts of ourselves that are not politically correct and would love to do just the opposite, or which are feeling victimised, we try and insist that everyone should conform to some politically correct ideal to keep us all safe from ‘that’.
At the end of the day most of it is just playing with words anyway. What is deemed politically correct today will probably be thought of as insulting tomorrow because it isn’t what we say, or how we say it, it is the intention with which we say it that counts. It’s a bit like the Victorians chopping all the dicks off the nude male statues in the museums and insisting they be replaced with much smaller ones so as not to offend their sensibilities.
One of my favourate books as a child was Little Black Sambo (now considered to be very politically incorrect) and I had a goliwog. I have never been a racist. If anything it helped me to be more curious about finding out about people who were so different from myself because I loved Little Black Sambo and my goliwog. They seemed like friends to me.
There is nothing more uncomfortable or off-putting than having to tread on eggshells around people because you are having to watch every word you say. Where is the trust?
Love and blessings
Rebecca
I like what Paul from Austria said…”human correctness” should be the focus!!!!!
Yes, its true. But I know I give with the right intention. Thats what matters to me. Besides I prefer to give to small project where you know how they spend the money.
I also give to the musician on the street. But even then I have doubts. Is he an alcoholic and does he buy booze with my money or does he spends it buying bread for his children? I don’t know that. Besides I work at a school with very difficult children. And I try to contribute to society by listening to them and respecting them even though they might end up being criminals. Maybe some day they will think back at the time they were at my school and remember a teacher that at least tried to understand them and treated them with respect even when they did not show me the same respect.
There are so many ways to do something for other. It’s not allways necesary to give to everything that is supposed to be politically correct.
Love,
Mirjam
To be ”Politically Correct” is (as Kathleen wrote) to be gagged willingly, to go with the flow, to accept tacitly the advertised and the published views, slogans and positions.
To be ”Politically Correct ” is to be like everybody else, to surrender your independent thinking, to accept ”the status quo” and to make sure that you don’t ”make waves”……
If you are ”Politically Correct” you accept to be bullied, to be manipulated and to be led.
Politically Correct people are the greatest blessing for dictators and politicians alike.
Yes, it’s true that politics are made by politicians, but who is electing them?
governare una polis, persone delegate da altre , votate ,elette , essere corretti è un pò mediare per il bene comune.perciò se si parla di informazione . non esiste una informazione “politicamente corretta”
Catherine , catherine,
You see, during the birthday of the millennium of the abbey st martin of the canigou, near to me, on November 16th, 2008 (I shall not tell everything, but just little so that you feel a little the bottom of my heart): I was held at the bottom of the church up with my stick of pélerin which was “given” to me this day there on the road in mountain,And up I saw all these people sat to pray and I knew it why my stick of pélerin had been given to me = they are many what wants the Amur of the figure of Christ, and in this world I heard(understood) their prayers
[ This day there, a photographer photographed me; he came towards me and said to me that he had allowed to photograph me to report the light and my image of prayer; and to ask me if he could publish photos in his magazine)
tu vois , lors de l’anniversaire du millénaire de l’abbaye st martin du canigou , près de chez moi , le 16 novembre 2008( je ne raconterai pas tout , mais juste un peu pour que tu sentes un peu le fond de mon coeur ) : je me tenais au fond de l’église debout avec mon bâton de pélerin qui m’a été “donné” ce jour là sur le chemin en montagne, et debout j’ai vu tous ces hommes assis à prier et j’ai su ce pourquoi mon bâton de pélerin m’avait été donné = ils sont nombreux ce qui veulent l’Amour du christ , et dans ce monde j’ai entendu leurs prières
[ce jour là , un photographe m’a pris en photo ; il est venu vers moi et m’a dit qu’il s’était permis de me prendre en photo pour rendre compte de la lumière et de mon image de prière ; et de me demander s’il pouvait publier les photos dans son magazine )
Catherine , catherine,
tu vois , lors de l’anniversaire du millénaire de l’abbaye st martin du canigou , près de chez moi , ( je ne raconterai pas tout , mais juste un peu pour que tu sentes un peu le fond de mon coeur ) : je me tenais au fond de l’église debout avec mon bâton de pélerin qui m’a été “donné” ce jour là , et debout j’ai vu tous ces hommes assis à prier et j’ai su ce pourquoi mon bâton de pélerin m’avait été donné = ils sont nombreux ce qui veulent l’Amour du christ , et dans ce monde j’ai entendu leurs prières
[ce jour là , un photographe m’a pris en photo ; il est venu vers moi et m’a dit qu’il s’était permis de me prendre en photo pour rendre compte de la lumière et de mon image de prière ; et de me demander s’il pouvait publier les photos dans son magasine )
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