How PC can you get? - Page 2

DaveinGermany · 29-04-2012, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

The word 'blackboard' hasn't died because of a natural development of the English language, it's been killed by someone looking for offence where none could be intended and none would be taken. Someone looking to impose unnatural and unnecessary change just to prove they can, that their brand of thinking rules.
And it's working.

Way to go my Man Gordo ! Ooer ..... or should that be "Way to go my person of the male persuasion Gordo ?"

Gordon Booth · 29-04-2012, 19:08

Again you have me at a disadvantage, Lee.
Which was the example you consider to be 'contrived, facetious' or 'clumsy'?
All of them or one in particular?
By the way, we still await one or all of your 'many better ones'.

Gordon Booth · 29-04-2012, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

Way to go my Man Gordo ! Ooer ..... or should that be "Way to go my person of the male persuasion Gordo ?"

How dare you assume I'm of 'the male persuasion', DiG?

I could easily take offence!

Gordon Booth · 29-04-2012, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

of course people will get offended at any clumsy language.

I don't get offended at 'clumsy language', not even yours.
I do get offended at offensive language-one is unintended, one is intended.

Eric · 29-04-2012, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

Shakespeare himself invented words, he helped the English language grow. We don't need to rewrite anything. The English language has evolved and will continue to evolve with new words added all the time. I do not fear this.

As for your contrived facetious example of what could be considered offensive, of course people will get offended at any clumsy language. Offence is subjective, some people are easily offended, let them be. If you believe what you are saying is not impolite or offensive then you need not change your language.

Jaysay invents words ... unfortunately, they don't seem to be helping the language grow ... maybe they will work on the vegetable garden

Offence isn't really all that subjective, by the way. And I have rarely met anyone, except true pedants (particularly short ones

) who get offended at clumsy language. And the last sentence is a crock.

DaveinGermany · 29-04-2012, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

As for your contrived facetious example of what could be considered offensive,

Offence is subjective, some people are easily offended, let them be. If you believe what you are saying is not impolite or offensive then you need not change your language.

Contrived & facetious ? Is it really ? As to my language I have no intention of changing, but unfortunately there are others who are most adamant that my words should change according to their sensibilities.

DaveinGermany · 29-04-2012, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

How dare you assume I'm of 'the male persuasion', DiG?

I could easily take offence!

A thousand pardons my good ...... erm ....... erm ...... would human be okay ? Or should I say sapient being.

Gordon Booth · 29-04-2012, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

If you believe what you are saying is not impolite or offensive then you need not change your language.

Such innocence! Have you tried that one out in one of the livelier town centre pubs late on a Saturday night? Obviously not but when you do, let us know, we might visit you.

Gordon Booth · 29-04-2012, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

A thousand pardons my good ...... erm ....... erm ...... would human be okay ? Or should I say sapient being.

There are those( I live with one) who might think you're still assuming a lot!
Although I do quite like 'sapient'.

Eric · 29-04-2012, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

another tory cock up

Oh, give it a break; we all know that it is because of 13 years of you know what

DaveinGermany · 29-04-2012, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

There are those( I live with one) who might think you're still assuming a lot!
Although I do quite like 'sapient'.

Right sapient it is then, your sapientness !

Lee · 29-04-2012, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

Such innocence! Have you tried that one out in one of the livelier town centre pubs late on a Saturday night? Obviously not but when you do, let us know, we might visit you.

Of course I have, its easy. (glad you took your turn at being condescending)

I gave better examples, Chalkboards, and Baa Baa Rainbow sheep.

All this "how far will it go?", "You can't talk nowadays cause someone will get offended" is hysteria. No one is telling you that you cant say manned, one person chose not to of his own accord, it was not hard to see what he was getting at.

Yes you can ask what colour a chalkboard is, no one would ever be offended by that, yes you can call it a blackboard. I don't see these as good examples of the good that political correctness can do. I also don't think exaggerating the enforcement of such things helps the argument as it is still very socially acceptable to call it a blackboard, a black sheep, manned, unmanned etc.

DaveinGermany · 29-04-2012, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

All this "how far will it go?", "You can't talk nowadays cause someone will get offended" is hysteria.

Lee, let me give you a personal example of this "hysteria", the other year I was home, we'd been out shopping & at the checkout I was piling stuff into bags, being a bloke it's a matter of just cram it in it'll be fine, the step-mum said jokingly to me, "Not like that you mong !"

The peep of the checkout swipe stopped, the young girl (18-20) on the till then told step-mum "you can't say that !" to which we replied "in our house it's practically a term of endearment", she said no more but her attitude had changed entirely.

So you tell me, are we really that far from the "contrived facetious" examples Gordon & I have given. You're the Lad with the Canadian girlfriend I notice, when you visited Canada did you see the same level of intolerant control there ? I'd think not, from what I recall of the Canadians they seem mentally well balanced, more than can be said of some of our progeny.

Lee · 29-04-2012, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

Lee, let me give you a personal example of this "hysteria", the other year I was home, we'd been out shopping & at the checkout I was piling stuff into bags, being a bloke it's a matter of just cram it in it'll be fine, the step-mum said jokingly to me, "Not like that you mong !"

The peep of the checkout swipe stopped, the young girl (18-20) on the till then told step-mum "you can't say that !" to which we replied "in our house it's practically a term of endearment", she said no more but her attitude had changed entirely.

So you tell me, are we really that far from the "contrived facetious" examples Gordon & I have given. You're the Lad with the Canadian girlfriend I notice, when you visited Canada did you see the same level of intolerant control there ? I'd think not, from what I recall of the Canadians they seem mentally well balanced, more than can be said of some of our progeny.

That's a fine example, when similar happens to me I have no problem politely explaining that I was joking and no offence was meant. I do however try not to use words like that because they have caused significant damage in the past to some people. Its not that you cannot say the words but people are increasingly more sensitive about them. It is also up to the person taking such offence to realise the context and if it was meant to harm or not.

Canada has its own political correctness (yep I said Eskimo). We are currently in Virginia and you can easily get yourself in hot water when talking about guns or religion around here. I try to be very culturally sensitive but I don't believe there are words I cant say, just perhaps shouldn't as to be sensitive to how people feel about these words.

Eric · 29-04-2012, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

Lee, let me give you a personal example of this "hysteria", the other year I was home, we'd been out shopping & at the checkout I was piling stuff into bags, being a bloke it's a matter of just cram it in it'll be fine, the step-mum said jokingly to me, "Not like that you mong !"

The peep of the checkout swipe stopped, the young girl (18-20) on the till then told step-mum "you can't say that !" to which we replied "in our house it's practically a term of endearment", she said no more but her attitude had changed entirely.

So you tell me, are we really that far from the "contrived facetious" examples Gordon & I have given. You're the Lad with the Canadian girlfriend I notice, when you visited Canada did you see the same level of intolerant control there ? I'd think not, from what I recall of the Canadians they seem mentally well balanced, more than can be said of some of our progeny.

"Mentally well balanced"

Are you dealing from a full deck?