PC or not.

[mnealtx 0]

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If so many people on this website recognize the stupidity and danger of PC, how and why does it continue to exist?

While it is true Macs are clearly superior to PCs, Microsoft is a large corporation with many resources to help them maintain a dominant market share with Windows. Also, Linux and FreeBSD can be run on PCs.

In fairness, there is hope that Windows Vista will offer PC users the same similar security and features that Mac users have known for years.

I would have to vote "or not." Get a Mac.

I've been waiting for that and the "what? we're skydivers...of COURSE we should be in favor of PCs!" posts....

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[billvon 3,111]

Political correctness is mandated, formalized courtesy. If people respect others, and are courteous in their dealings with others, then there's no need for "political correctness." Since there's damn little of that around lately, political correctness is used as a poor substitute.

[jcd11235 0]

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I've been waiting for that and the "what? we're skydivers...of COURSE we should be in favor of PCs!" posts....

There are so many better options than a Para Commander these days.

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[billvon 3,111]

>We can't call someone fat. Obese is becoming a dirty word. How
>about calorically challenged?

That courtesy thing again. When Amy, Molly and I are talking about weight issues, we use the terms obese, morbidly obese etc. Not because we want to annoy anyone, but because those are clinical terms (Molly is a dietician, Amy is a doctor.)

Now, if we were talking to someone who WAS overweight I wouldn't use any of those words because they're rude. If they wanted to talk about their weight, I'd refer to it as "their weight" or use whatever terms they wanted to use, because people are sensitive abou that.

I think the PC thing comes about because people a) don't show each other courtesy when they're talking to them, and b) people don't realize they shouldn't read things that offend them. So they fall back on the PC nonsense to enforce courtesy.

>First it was Negro, then Black, and now African American.

I'm happy to use any name people want to use for themselves. Heck, a woman can change her last name four times; doesn't bother me (as long as I can remember what the latest one is!)

Personally I use "black" as a way to describe skin color and "african-american" to describe an american originally from africa, since I know several white guys from africa, and several black people who are _not_ from africa.

[mnealtx 0]

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I've been waiting for that and the "what? we're skydivers...of COURSE we should be in favor of PCs!" posts....

There are so many better options than a Para Commander these days.

True, true... but neither one is NEARLY as effective without a pilot chute!

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[rehmwa 2]

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Political correctness is mandated, formalized courtesy. If people respect others, and are courteous in their dealings with others, then there's no need for "political correctness." Since there's damn little of that around lately, political correctness is used as a poor substitute.

very true, and political correctness only mandates courtesy in one direction and promotes discourtesy in return - poor substitute indeed

in any case, how can you "mandate" courtesy? the insincerity certain cancels out any benefit

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[jcd11235 0]

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True, true... but neither one is NEARLY as effective without a pilot chute!

Oh! You meant PC. Well why didn't you just say so?!?!

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[billvon 3,111]

>in any case, how can you "mandate" courtesy? the insincerity certain cancels out any benefit

True. Doesn't mean they don't try.

[Buried 0]

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To put it another way - Be civil and respectful to everyone, but vigorously defend your beliefs.

Well said and very true!!

yeah and dont worry about hurting someone's feelings!!
if they are too ignorant to recongize that someone else can have a different view then them. boo hoo hoo you may cry, feel 'hurt', but i'm sure you are an adult and will forget about it if you have you own life, no sympathy for me. On one side it's america's culture to live vicariously through others and be protected as much as possible and play the politics (again to be protected) and the other is to step on the little man and be selfish to make $ (again, relating to the first few items). I mean look at our large companies, our media, our tv, our movies, our habits, our food, our law system. it's all setup to protect people who have no common sense or people which are smart enough to play the system, thinking that there will be some grand reward awaiting them at the end. People(Americans, small and tall, skinny, and fat) are just too sheltered today. they need to mature and realize it's a fact of life.

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[billvon 3,111]

>yeah and dont worry about hurting someone's feelings!!

I'd say DO worry about hurting other people's feelings! That's just common courtesy. If someone is sitting next to you on the plane, and they are oozing into your seat, ask them to please not do that. No need to say "jesus you're fat" even if that's what you're thinking. Not PCness, just courtesy.

The PC nonsense has gotten started because people on both sides of the issue just aren't thinking. If you are sitting next to a fat chick on a plane, be civil and considerate. Asking her to leave more room for you will get you much better results than shoving her and muttering about "fat cows" under your breath. If you're the fatty*, then do your best to not ooze onto other people's seats, and realize that if they request you give them more room, they just want more room - they're not calling you names.

(* - note horrible non-PC term)

[Buried 0]

well common courtesy is, yes, a good thing and you, but does not push, limit, etc your views of others. of course you should still respect others, but PC isn't about respect, or if it is it had gone too far looooong ago and has had a changed meaning. common courtesy is FAR away and not related to being PC IMO and there is more than just physical appearance. One can be fat, but the nicest person. Pot - kettle - black. it is what it is. if you are fat and you take offence to it when you are called that then maybe you should do something about it or build enough selfcondifence where it doesn't matter. I dont' have a problem when people call me a jerk, asshole, etc

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[billvon 3,111]

>if you are fat and you take offence to it when you are called that then . . . .

. . . you're normal.

If you're stupid, and people call you stupid, you likely wouldn't like that - and to someone with a PhD in astrophysics, you probably are less intelligent.

If you're a wimp, and someone calls you that, you likely wouldn't like that - and to a professional bodybuilder you probably are less strong.

Good solution? Don't call people fat, or stupid, or wimps. That's not PC, that's just plain courtesy.

>I dont' have a problem when people call me a jerk, asshole, etc

Well, neither do I, but that's because I AM an asshole. I wouldn't call other people that though!

[Amazon 7]

Sooooo does that mean when I give you an Amazon Hug.. I can ooooooze all over you???

[NCclimber 0]

What if they called you an "incoherent, blathering idiot"?







Hypothetically speaking, of course.

[Buried 0]

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What if they called you an "incoherent, blathering idiot"?







Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[Buried 0]

well some of that stuff would be totally incorrect and harder to prove that you think since they require a (usually nonrelated) comparision. Fat is fat, it's documented. 10-15lbs over ideally isn't fat.. Fat, would be unhealthy and no added benefits (other than providing cannibles a bigger meal)
I'll tell you that you're fat and that I love you too.

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[billvon 3,111]

>Fat is fat, it's documented. 10-15lbs over ideally isn't fat.. Fat, would
>be unhealthy and no added benefits . . .

. . . for americans.

Stupid can be documented too, with standardized IQ tests - and half the country is below average. Still, even if someone scored below average, I wouldn't call them stupid.

This isn't a question of documentation. It's a question of common courtesy. And if we all showed a little more of it, we wouldn't see this PC nonsense springing up as a poor replacement.

[Buried 0]

IQ tests are products of man, and there are various types of stupid. I wouldn't really call people stupid anyways.

remember when the SAT and ACT where changed recently since apparently "blacks" or "lower class" (articles' words not mine) didn't know how many cards in a deck and some other things.

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[NCclimber 0]

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IQ tests are products of man, and there are various types of stupid. I wouldn't really call people stupid anyways.

remember when the SAT and ACT where changed recently since apparently "blacks" or "lower class" (articles' words not mine) didn't know how many cards in a deck and some other things.

High school students who didn't know how many cards are in a deck?


That's just fucking stupid!!!

[Royd 0]

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For example, while I support the right of gays to marry, I have been accused of supporting intolerance because I agree with the right of the church to not participate in gay marriages (freedom of religion).

This is an excellent example of what I am talking about. Marriage has been the same for centuries. Along comes a group who have an agenda and want to twist and pervert the meaning of marriage.

If two people want to get a lawyer and draw up a contract between themselves to do as they please, whether they be two lesbians or two beer drinking rednecks living in a trailer in the woods, go for it. Just don't call it a marriage.

[Royd 0]

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Interesting side note: Everyone is prejudiced. Sooner you realise where your possibly irrational preconceived notions come from and who they are targetted at, the quicker you wioll be able to be more rasonable in your approach to them.

Those who demand PC from the masses tend to create walls of their own.

Unless you think or act exactly like me, then you are wrong.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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This is an excellent example of what I am talking about. Marriage has been the same for centuries. Along comes a group who have an agenda and want to twist and pervert the meaning of marriage.

If two people want to get a lawyer and draw up a contract between themselves to do as they please, whether they be two lesbians or two beer drinking rednecks living in a trailer in the woods, go for it. Just don't call it a marriage.

I have no clue how this relates back to Political Correctness. Can you explain?

[Royd 0]

Can some one define Political Correctness for me, so we can all talk about the same thing?

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I'll give it a shot. PC is a method used by self perceived minority groups, whether they actually are or not, to drive their personal agendas through the use of false guilt. If they can get everyone else to walk on eggshells, then they think that they have won.

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[livendive 8]

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This is an excellent example of what I am talking about. Marriage has been the same for centuries. Along comes a group who have an agenda and want to twist and pervert the meaning of marriage.

If two people want to get a lawyer and draw up a contract between themselves to do as they please, whether they be two lesbians or two beer drinking rednecks living in a trailer in the woods, go for it. Just don't call it a marriage.

I have no clue how this relates back to Political Correctness. Can you explain?

Political correctness tells people what they should and should not call things based on others being potentially offended. Royd is saying that a lifelong committment between two men shouldn't be called "marriage", kind of like those two men shouldn't be called "fags", i.e. he's being politically correct.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[Michele 1]

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As seen in the thread about the English serial murderer, the word prostitute is now inappropriate to describe a prostitute.

Just to be clear here, I don't give a flying rat's ass what they're called. In that thread, however, the comments were leaning towards "well, they're prostitutes, so..." which showed me that a disrespect was occuring. That's the only reason I made my comments - irrespective of what they do for a living, they deserve common human respect, and are the victims of a violent, brutal crime. It doesn't - and didn't matter - what someone calls them, as long as the basic respect is afforded.

That's the issue in my view. As for PC, I think it tends to be a bit confusing...but I'm intelligent, and can generally suss out what people are discussing.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~