PC
You know, the idea of political correctness is sound. The idea is that no-one should be judged based on their race, religion, sex, sexual preference and ability. We should all be judged, as Martin Luther King once said, "based on the content of our character". Amen brother.*

Everyone is different. "There are good and bad in all races" as my mother used to say. The ideal definition of PC is: treat everyone as an individual, regardless of their appearance or lifestyle. If they're a twat, tell them they're a twat. If they're good at their job, reward them. And so on.

The problem comes when people play the race/gender/gay/equality card. When that happens organisations immediately get their best scary legal goblins on the case. The scary legal goblins come back and say "employ more black people". Or "put wheelchair ramps in". Or "stop celebrating christmas." They say "If you don't do these things YOU COULD GET SUED."

Now, as we all know the one thing that all organisations and corporations fear is GETTING SUED. (See packets of peanuts with "WARNING CONTAINS NUTS" on them for another example of this thinking.)

So, as Mike Fishcake most eloquently said, it's not really PC that's the problem. It's the buttock clenching fear that somehow, someday you may OFFEND SOMEONE and BE SUED. Gasp!

So next time someone says "it's PC gone mad", just remind them that in principle PC is a good thing. Explain to them that the problem is caused not by wishing to appear favourable to blacks/gays/women but by the fear-inducing possibility that . . . repeat after me . . . SOMEONE MAY GET SUED.

Then poke them in the eye.




* I mean "brother" in a hippyish "family of man" kind of way, and not in a reference to the fact that black man sometimes to refer to each other and themselves as brother. Just to clarify in case anyone was thinking of suing me.
(MrC. Having the most boring username on b3ta since 2004, Fri 23 Nov 2007, 13:09, 5 replies)

"WARNING, CONTAINS NUTS" is not so bad...
...it's "WARNING, MAY CONTAINS NUTS" that does it...
(misanthrope is so adjective he's verbing nouns!, Fri 23 Nov 2007, 14:52, closed)

Indeed,
like there's a chance they're not present.
(MrC. Having the most boring username on b3ta since 2004, Fri 23 Nov 2007, 14:59, closed)

peanuts
Is it because peanuts are legumes and not in fact, nuts?
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Fri 23 Nov 2007, 15:50, closed)

True, but
people who are allergic to nuts don't seem to notice that.

Or else they would be allergic to lentils, peas, beans, oilseed rape (I think), lupins and so on.

Maybe they are, I don't know.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 23 Nov 2007, 16:07, closed)

Hmmm
This was not my point, but hey - that's B3ta for ya!

Carry on.
(MrC. Having the most boring username on b3ta since 2004, Fri 23 Nov 2007, 16:08, closed)