Political Correctness

I don't think out of control political correctness is as rampant as some people think it is. Sure there are instances of people being a bit ridiculous about it but to say that it's tearing society apart (and yes I've heard someone say that) is a wild exaggeration. The thing is, political correctness isn't anything new. Political correctness is just the boundaries of what we as a society deems to be socially acceptable behavior. It's always existed, just with fluctuating boundaries. I think that most of the people complaining about rampant political correctness are just angry that they can't get away with saying and doing certain things anymore. They're mad that they have to act a certain way in the work place. They're mad that they'll be called out for making uncouth jokes or statements. They're mad because they can't get away with certain things that used to be alright in times past. I think it's just natural for some people to resist change but I also think that swimming against the current won't get you anywhere. Have I said things that aren't politically correct? Of course, but like with many things, there is a time and a place. I recognize that the upcoming generation has different boundaries of acceptable social behavior from previous generations and I think that because of that, many people from previous generations are getting unreasonably bent out of shape over it. There are a few things, however, that I'm not for. Namely, silencing politically incorrect speech. I think that instead of silencing racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. people, we should allow them to speak and expose themselves and their hateful rhetoric. That way they shine a spotlight on themselves and we as a society can see them for what they are and have the good sense to openly reject their message. I'm not afraid of hate speech, I just think it's best to let people out themselves instead of trying to shut them up. I will admit, however, that there are in fact, instances of political correctness becoming a little ridiculous. For instance, some of this business with a growing number of genders is somewhat ludicrous to me. However, I don't get all bent out of shape about it. I believe that is someone wants to be called by a certain pronoun, then it's just polite to use their preferred pronoun. It doesn't mean that I have to actually believe that there are a jillion different genders, it's just being polite. I think of it like this; if someone's name is Robert but they prefer to be called bob, you would just call them bob right? It's just about being polite. Saying "No you're Robert and that's what I'm going to call you" would just sound rude would it not? That's how I look at the whole gender issue. In fact, I think most of what political correctness is, is just common politeness. I was raised to be polite and to treat people with common respect, which is where my views on political correctness come from. That's pretty much the gist of it. Swimming against the current will get you nowhere, might as well go with the flow of the times. That's what I think of political correctness.