What do you personally define as "political correctness"?

[KingsGambit]

When people debate about political correctness, I wonder if they're talking past each other.

From my perspective, the majority of what I see as referred to as "politically incorrect" seems like basic impoliteness to me, with some exceptions. I find it telling that the people who rail the most against political correctness tend to be the lewdest voices out there (South Park, Howard Stern, etc.). However, I find that those people who don't share my perspective tend not to be thinking along these lines. So I'd like to know what you all personally define as political correctness.

demi-conservative may not post in this thread.

[TheWall]

To me political correctness is the attempt to censor people by overstating that something can be horribly insensitive but not always.

Also just saying I think the next word and similar words are bad not because I dislike correctness but because the words are slurs with massive double standards.

[shunyadragon]

The best and clearest example of the concept of 'political correctness' I can come up with is the 'Conservative' test for public office held as the political gospel by the 'Tea Party' and other evangelical politicians.

[Tassman]

When people debate about political correctness, I wonder if they're talking past each other.

From my perspective, the majority of what I see as referred to as "politically incorrect" seems like basic impoliteness to me, with some exceptions. I find it telling that the people who rail the most against political correctness tend to be the lewdest voices out there (South Park, Howard Stern, etc.). However, I find that those people who don't share my perspective tend not to be thinking along these lines. So I'd like to know what you all personally define as political correctness..

[Jedidiah]

Political correctness is fascism pretending to be manners.

George Carlin

[Catholicity]

Well I think political correctness has a lot of definitions. Obviously its not ok to use racial slurs. "politically correct" in that aspect means calling folks of other colors by there appropriate race (Aka Indian, Black, Native, Vietnamese, Pakistani, etc) is one form of political correctness that I consider appropriate. When it comes to religion, slurs bother me. Disrespect of political leaders (you can dislike them but we should still respect them). However political correctness can also go way too far. While I don't think a person should make a slur against another of any kind, its also not ok to label someone's belief's ideals, ethics and morales as hate speech unless a person can genuinely prove other wise. For example if the ACLU and the SPLC can prove that Hephzipah house is abusive and should go on their black list (which if you do the research they should) However for just simply having an ethics board that the SPLC and the ACLU disagree with and call politically incorrect, does not mean its politically incorrect it means its a disagreement.

[Darth Executor]

It's an umbrella term for progressive ideas you are not permitted to criticize. I don't like it and don't use it myself though, it has absolutely no punch and sounds more like whining than proper retaliation for the absurdities it is used to protect.

[Catholicity]

Political correctness is fascism pretending to be manners.

George Carlin

I love George Carlin

[Meh Gerbil]

The definition is wrapped up in the term.
Political correctness is the evaluation of a viewpoint based upon political expediency instead of the evaluation of a viewpoint based upon facts, discussion, and debate.
Both the right and the left participate in this behavior in equal measure.

Examples:
National Public Radio
Local Baptist Church

People who engage in this sort of nonsense will often participate in actively destroying the reputation/career/life of the opposition.
When you run into these kinds of people the best thing you can do is round up potential victims and go get pizza away from the bug-eyed lunatic.

[Mountain Man]

Political correctness is nothing more than an attempt to control the language. As someone once said, if you can control the language then you've won the debate by default.

For instance, it is politically incorrect to refer to homosexuality as immoral, or as a psychological disorder. If pro-homosexual advocates are able to remove that arrow from their opponent's quiver then they've won the debate before it even starts.

[Sparko]

Anyone who disagrees with me is a racist and bigot.

[Trout]

When you're tryna beat information out of someone and stop before you kill them.

[Adrift]

This is political correctness:

Cardiff Metropolitan Uni bans 'gender stereotype' words

A university has been accused of restricting students' freedom of speech by banning words such as "housewife" and "manpower".
Cardiff Metropolitan University's code of practice on using inclusive language encourages the use of "gender-neutral terms".
Author Dr Joanna Williams said they were "unnecessary" and "authoritarian".
The university said it was committed to "providing an environment where everyone is valued".
The university recognised language "can be a contentious issue" and developed its code of practice to "promote fairness and equality".
It recommended using gender-neutral terms and avoiding generalisations or assumptions based on stereotypes.
The university checklist makes alternative suggestions:

• Best man for the job - best person for the job
• Fireman - firefighter
• Housewife - shopper, consumer, homemaker
• Manpower - human resources, labour force, staff, personnel, workers
• Tax man - tax inspector
• Sportsmanship - fairness, good humour, sense of fair play
• Gentleman's agreement - unwritten agreement, agreement based on trust

A larger list can be found here

It's usually a sincere attempt at inclusiveness, and equality, but more often than not all it does it create barriers (often where there were none to begin with). It's a forced attempt to assuage for sexist or racial guilt on people who do not suffer from that guilt and who have no reason to. Like a lot of progressive ideas, I believe the heart is genuinely in the right place, but the spirit and mind is out of whack. It's a godless world's notion of the heart of Christ for people, if you can just ignore that pesky Christ. It's the "wisdom of this world" that's ultimately "foolishness".

[shunyadragon]

Political correctness is fascism pretending to be manners.

George Carlin

The 'Tea Party' and the conservative evangelical right are fantastic at pretending.

[rogue06]

Anyone who disagrees with me is a racist and bigot.

You sexist homophobe.