# Look, here's the Straight Dope on Political Correctness **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 21, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792 "2016-01-21T17:01:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/61 "2016-01-22T00:39:56Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > But “political correctness,” whatever it might be, has not. It has existed since the first totalitarian society. It was present in Ancient Egypt. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/62 "2016-01-22T00:42:13Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > It has existed since the first totalitarian society. It was present in Ancient Egypt. 1. No pre-modern society, with the possible exception of Sparta and maybe the Inca Empire, was “totalitarian” in anything like the modern sense of the word (and, there is no pre-modern sense of the word). 2. :dubious: What exactly happened in Ancient Egypt that was in any way comparable to, say, a campus group protesting hate speech? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/63 "2016-01-22T00:43:54Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > It has existed since the first totalitarian society. It was present in Ancient Egypt. Or you saying we live in a Totalitarian society? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/64 "2016-01-22T00:57:36Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Or you saying we live in a Totalitarian society? I am sorry – not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/65 "2016-01-22T01:00:43Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I am sorry – not yet. So then you think people will be sent to prison in the future for saying cunt or nigger? In the USA? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/66 "2016-01-22T01:01:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What exactly happened in Ancient Egypt that was in any way comparable to, say, a campus group protesting hate speech? A person who blasphemed Pharaoh being driven out into the Wilderness by a crowd with stones. PS. Anonymity allows people to post Politically Incorrect stuff. At night some workers drew a graffiti of Pharaoh at the restroom. That was utter blasphemy to say about the Pharaoh – he was considered an angel. I have heard such graffiti did survive. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/67 "2016-01-22T01:02:26Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > So then you think people will be sent to prison in the future for saying cunt or nigger? In the USA? People have lost jobs for much much less. In any case I have never used these words. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/68 "2016-01-22T01:02:29Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What I’m saying is that 1) insults like “cunt” that disparage women as women are misogynistic, and 2) no woman deserves misogyny. > > To which part of that do you object? Look, that’s how you interpret the insult, just as you interpret using “dick” as an insult differently in post #54. That doesn’t mean that’s how the insult is always or typically used - it could simply be an insult. Is “bitch” verboten as well for both men and women? So is it misogynistic to call a man a “cunt”? Why or why not? #2 is fine - no woman deserves misogyny. #1 is suspect because you are assuming intent and/or motive. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/69 "2016-01-22T01:04:14Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > People have lost jobs for much much less. In any case I have never used these words. Yes, of course they have lost jobs. But that is to the same as going to prison. What is your definition of a totalitarian government? Surely it must include going to prison for breaking minor infractions… ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/70 "2016-01-22T01:05:49Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Look, that’s how you interpret the insult, just as you interpret using “dick” as an insult differently in post #54. That doesn’t mean that’s how the insult is always or typically used - it could simply be an insult. Is “bitch” verboten as well for both men and women? > > So is it misogynistic to call a man a “cunt”? Why or why not? > > #2 is fine - no woman deserves misogyny. #1 is suspect because you are assuming intent and/or motive. So it’s not an insult unless you agree that its an insult? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/71 "2016-01-22T01:08:11Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > What is your definition of a totalitarian government? Surely it must include going to prison for breaking minor infractions… In a Totalitarian state a person can be severely penalized for disagreeing with acceptable views. Not necessarily by prison. May be by the Blacklist. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/72 "2016-01-22T01:10:21Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > So it’s not an insult unless you agree that its an insult? So it IS an insult if you or **Brain Glutton** say it is? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/73 "2016-01-22T01:16:31Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So it IS an insult if you or **Brain Glutton** say it is? No, it’s an insult if the majority of the people in that category say it’s an insult. Or, if it was meant as an insult. Words are letters grouped together. Context is what gives them definition. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/74 "2016-01-22T01:19:17Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > In a Totalitarian state a person can be severely penalized for disagreeing with acceptable views. Not necessarily by prison. May be by the Blacklist. Ok But you do realize for DECADES that blacks and women and other minorities were spoken to in a derogatory or patronizing manner on a daily or weekly basis. This PC reaction that you hate so much is just an attempt to correct that. Racists don’t stop if all you do is ask them politely. It takes consequences to change bad behavior. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/75 "2016-01-22T01:20:27Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > Ok > > But you do realize for DECADES that blacks and women and other minorities were spoken to in a derogatory or patronizing manner on a daily or weekly basis. This PC reaction that you hate so much is just an attempt to correct that. Racists don’t stop if all you do is ask them politely. It takes consequences to change bad behavior. I am not talking about race – the minorities did and do face lots of discrimination. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/76 "2016-01-22T01:23:12Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I am not talking about race – the minorities did and do face lots of discrimination. Then what are you talking about??? ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/77 "2016-01-22T01:26:22Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > So it’s not an insult unless you agree that its an insult? Look, we’re not talking about whether name calling of a particular kind is or is not an insult - of course calling someone a cunt is an insult. Do you think the use of the word “cunt” when directed at a woman has only a singular purpose, to demean said woman as “nothing more than a sex object.” Sometimes an insult is just an insult. But look, BG obviously can tell what the intent and motivation behind every insult is. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/78 "2016-01-22T01:31:44Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Look, we’re not talking about whether name calling of a particular kind is or is not an insult - of course calling someone a cunt is an insult. Do you think the use of the word “cunt” when directed at a woman has only a singular purpose, to demean said woman as “nothing more than a sex object.” Sometimes an insult is just an insult. But look, BG obviously can tell what the intent and motivation behind every insult is. Ok… well, it seems you actually want to discuss this so ok. I’d say words like nigger and cunt and fucking faggot pretty much only have one connotation, it has malice attached and is insulting both an individual and all members of that group at the same time. I agree, hypothetically, that they may not mean that… but it seems unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/79 "2016-01-22T02:00:20Z")
I think this is getting way over-analyzed. The point to me is that we have a political candidate who, when faced with someone he disagrees with, reverts to the third grade tactic of name calling. And when called out on it, hides behind the PC Defense. Which is the equivalent of “well, he started it.” Most grown rational adults know better than to resort to personal insults when disagreeing with anyone. The Donald does not. This is what makes him such a frightening disaster for a POTUS. He’s not a diplomat and the position calls for diplomacy. When questioned about it, he cries “PC, PC!” knowing full well that will stir up all the other people who are outraged by the fact that when you resort to name calling, you get called out on your bullshit. They kick up so much dirt arguing about whether it’s PC or misogyny that the main issue is obfuscated. The issue is that the POTUS should be able to conduct himself like an adult and he cannot. He’s not being straight forward or shooting from the hip or putting it out there. When faced with an unfavorable comment he throws a rock, stomps his little foot, and hides behind his little PC banner. Imagine that hot mess addressing the UN. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792/80 "2016-01-22T02:04:20Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > We can have fun with PC jokes – “I’m not broke, I’m financially challenged!” – but the above is what the whole thing comes down to – that, and nothing at all more. Because someone who has used a word in one meaning at some point in history now has fixed the meaning of the word for all eternity and change can ever be contemplated. That’s just silly. The massive extend of the Rotherham Child Rape is a good example of what comes of PC when you let it blot out common sense and decency. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-heres-the-straight-dope-on-political-correctness/743792.md?page=5)