Are we too PC??

[Imdanny]

Haven, I viewed that more as someone made a faux-pas (criticizing big diamonds on a diamond site, although, yes, I agree with you, with not the most diplomatic word choice).

But do you feel totally comfortable dressing down other forum members about "minding their manners"? I mean we're all adults here, and you and I aren't moderators. Just a thought.

I'm pretty sure I lose my temper sometimes but I never feel comfortable about it. Which doesn't make it right. It's just something I have to watch.

 

[jewelz617]

Imdanny, I''m *kind* of obsessed with your avatar.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

I think what constitutes PC can be cultural to some extent (with the exception of some common obvious denominators). I see people say things here that make me think OMG! Did you really say that? Did you even think it? Whole topics, sometimes, would never be discussed or put in a particular way amongst Scottish people.

It works both ways - some things I would like to say I know would horrify folks here.

I suppose PC to me just means being respectful and in particular trying to respect diversity (of race, culture, opinions etc).

Are we too PC on PS? I can''t tell, because it''s a predominantly American site and I''m not tuned in enough to what''s the norm in that context to know if people are more or less PC here.

Jen

 

[arjunajane]

In Australia, I feel we are a lot loss PC-ish.

On PS, I have recognized a significantly stronger PC tendency, mainly via the majority US membership.
This is also my experience speaking with US people outside PS.

I''m not keen on being over-PC; but I feel it''s a different realm than observing common manners and basic sensitivity. Sometimes they get confused, which isn''t fun

 

[Imdanny]

Date: 3/23/2010 12:15:06 AM
Author: PinkAsscher678
Imdanny, I''m *kind* of obsessed with your avatar.

LOL!

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 3/22/2010 4:11:58 PM
Author: doodle
I think far too many people misinterpret what it means to be PC. The idea of political correctness means that you seek to minimize offense pertaining to age, race, religion, sex, handicap, etc. It doesn''t mean that you must temper everything you say about everything lest someone be offended by it. Personally, I fear the slippery slope that has been created by such a strong emphasis on being politically correct. First, you can''t voice opinions that may offend for political reasons, then you can''t voice opinions that may offend for ANY reason, then you can''t voice an opinion, then you can''t have your own opinion. There''s nothing wrong with political correctness in itself, but the ways in which people misuse it can be scary. Far too many people cry ''YOU''RE NOT BEING PC!'' just because someone disagreed with them about something that doesn''t even remotely fall into the arena that PC references. It''s too often equated with politeness in general--someone can be rude without being politically incorrect, but a lot of people think they''re the same thing. Hrm, I think I''m starting to talk in circles--generally my cue to shut up!

cheers doodle, that''s exactly what I was getting at / trying to say.


I also strongly agree with RFT''s comment "I think people spend far too much time and energy looking for reasons to be offended."
And honestly, that gets very tiring.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

Date: 3/22/2010 7:42:54 PM
Author: PinkAsscher678

Date: 3/22/2010 4:16:51 PM
Author: redfaerythinker
I can''t be PC... it changes too often. I can''t describe a person''s looks because I can''t comment on their race because the name changes almost daily. I can''t comment on politics or religion. So I mostly keep my mouth shut.


As far as the idea of PC goes. I think it''s nice to try and be polite. But I think people spend far too much time and energy looking for reasons to be offended.

I think people spend far too much time and energy looking for reasons to be offended.

This exactly.

+2.

I think it''s one thing to be polite to someone and another to go out of your way to avoid offending someone. As stated above, people spend too much time looking for things to be offended by. I also think this ties into stereotypes - it''s not a stereotype if it''s based on fact - even if the outcome is not PC and offends someone or a group of people.

As a group, I think that PS users are too PC, but at the same time I think you have to keep the peace on an online, anonymous message board or it gets out of control with personal attacks, etc. I''m generally a polite person, but I''m much more PC on PS than I am in real life.

 

[TooPatient]

Date: 3/23/2010 10:42:09 AM
Author: DivaDiamond007

Date: 3/22/2010 7:42:54 PM
Author: PinkAsscher678

Date: 3/22/2010 4:16:51 PM
Author: redfaerythinker
I can''t be PC... it changes too often. I can''t describe a person''s looks because I can''t comment on their race because the name changes almost daily. I can''t comment on politics or religion. So I mostly keep my mouth shut.


As far as the idea of PC goes. I think it''s nice to try and be polite. But I think people spend far too much time and energy looking for reasons to be offended.

I think people spend far too much time and energy looking for reasons to be offended.

This exactly.

+2.

I think it''s one thing to be polite to someone and another to go out of your way to avoid offending someone. As stated above, people spend too much time looking for things to be offended by. I also think this ties into stereotypes - it''s not a stereotype if it''s based on fact - even if the outcome is not PC and offends someone or a group of people.

As a group, I think that PS users are too PC, but at the same time I think you have to keep the peace on an online, anonymous message board or it gets out of control with personal attacks, etc. I''m generally a polite person, but I''m much more PC on PS than I am in real life.

Ditto to all above.

The highlighted part is especially true. I don''t think this makes it okay to lump someone into a group because "ALL ______ are always/never ____"
We are all individuals -- BUT there are statistics and trends that are most definitely true.

All people who wear baggy pants & bandanas are not going to attack you on a dark street BUT if I''m walking down a dark street and a guy dressed this way is walking behind me, I will be nervous.



ETA: I typed a lot. Then deleted a lot. Then typed and deleted some more. Nothing I typed was offensive, but we live in the age of PC.

 

[kenny]

Date: 3/23/2010 10:42:09 AM
Author: DivaDiamond007
As a group, I think that PS users are too PC, but at the same time I think you have to keep the peace on an online, anonymous message board or it gets out of control with personal attacks, etc.

Very well put DD7.

Online it is best to err on the side of caution.

 

[Haven]

Date: 3/23/2010 12:06:53 AM
Author: Imdanny
Haven, I viewed that more as someone made a faux-pas (criticizing big diamonds on a diamond site, although, yes, I agree with you, with not the most diplomatic word choice).

But do you feel totally comfortable dressing down other forum members about ''minding their manners''? I mean we''re all adults here, and you and I aren''t moderators. Just a thought.

I''m pretty sure I lose my temper sometimes but I never feel comfortable about it. Which doesn''t make it right. It''s just something I have to watch.

You''re right, Imdanny. I have no right to tell someone to mind her manners. I''m not a moderator, nor would I want to be, and if I''ve ever dressed anyone else down about minding her manners, I owe her an apology. I''ll return to that thread after I finish posting this response. (I know I''ve certainly lost my composure more than once around here, and posters have typically been extremely gracious in response. HLMR and Maria D both responded with incredible grace to two of my uglier gut reaction type posts, and I will always remember them kindly for it. I should try to do the same with others, shouldn''t I?)

I was genuinely surprised about the comment in question, and then I was impressed when she came back and gracefully apologized for it rather than becoming defensive, as people often do.

This is the only forum in which I''ve ever participated, and I do feel that the posters here are particularly kind, respectful, and considerate of each other. This isn''t an excuse for my comment in that other thread, but I''m not above admitting that I get a bit protective of the PS community when I see people posting things that threaten the civilized nature of the boards. As you said though, that isn''t my place. I''ll blame it on the fact that I''m the oldest of four girls, and thus have always been the protective older sister. I''ll take your feedback to heart the next time I find myself in a similar situation.

Thank you.

 

[Maisie]

Haven,
I don''t see any reason why you should apologize or change anything about the way you post. I have never seen you be offensive to anyone.

 

[packrat]

Date: 3/23/2010 1:41:49 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 3/23/2010 10:42:09 AM

Author: DivaDiamond007

As a group, I think that PS users are too PC, but at the same time I think you have to keep the peace on an online, anonymous message board or it gets out of control with personal attacks, etc.

Very well put DD7.


Online it is best to err on the side of caution.

Yes. I tend to keep my mouth shut about some things. Sometimes I type a reply and then click out b/c I''m sure people will not like it, even tho I don''t mean for it to come across that way. Much easier to zip it.

 

[jas]

Yes! I mean, no! I mean, in some cases...but not you guys, well, some of you, but you have your reasons and I love you!