January 05, 2006

Policical correctness

Political correctness, now there is a phrase that can cause a storm. And it has with the publication of Anthony Browne's pamflet on it (download it here). With Labin Tall collecting together a group of links
Blog comment at the Ablution, Ninme, Tory Convert and Too Early To Tell with considered posts, Raw Carrot (a bit cross but mostly wants to run over George Monbiot), Tangled Web, Khan Sahib and Arthur's Seat (all more or less negative towards Yazz).
My personal view on PC is simple. It all comes down to choice. If you have a choice about something you can be critised for it. If you do not then you should not. I wouldn't censor anyone, but cross the line and the normal rules of debate are suspended. Ad Hominem attacks becomes fine. Cross the line and you should be savagely critised, viciously ridiculed, or ignored.

Gender, transgender, hetro/homo/bisexuality, inteligence, race, and genetic disorders (such as Crones Disease) these are all genetic, you cannot choose them or choose to change them, so you should never be critised purely for being any of these.

Religion and other ideologies, or simply acting stupidly when you have the intelegence to know better however are all fair game.

In my view it is unacceptable to critise someone for being Asian or of Asian decent, this is not something that they have any choice over. But it is perfectly acceptable to critise Islamic beliefs since they are a choice.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gender, transgender, homo/bisexuality, intelligence, race, and genetic disorders (such as Crones Disease) these are all genetic, you cannot choose them or choose to change them, so you should never be critised for them.

Ok, I accept that all the above are genetic (I think... though I'm not entirely sure where I stand on sexuality...).

I'm not sure though whether you can really say people should "never be criticised for them".

For example, if a man and woman (i.e. heterosexuals) were to have sex in front of you and a dozen other people on the seat next to you on the bus, surely criticism would be permitted, if not absolutely required?

If you mean they should not be criticized solely on the basis of their race/gender/etc. then I fully support what you say. But, I just want to clarify whether or not you accept that the *decisions* made by everyone should be open to debate.

2:00 pm  
Blogger chris said...

Thank you for pointing out my sloppy writing, as that is what I mean. I've edited it for a bit more clarity. Though personally I would have no problem with a man and woman (or any other combination) getting jiggy with it in front of me on the bus so long as they didn't want me to move for it. But that is just me.

2:16 pm  
Blogger AndyB said...

You have read the dissection of Browne's 'study' at The Virtual Stoa, haven't you? I suggest that you do. Scroll down to read all eleven short posts, beginning with one titled "Political Correctness Gone Mad" (CTRL + F to find this phrase).

You might also be interested to know that Browne has been a paid contributor to the American racist site V-Dare.

8:01 pm  

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