# Rehabilitating "political correctness"s' negative image **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 30, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600 "2017-01-30T18:59:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/261 "2017-02-14T13:40:24Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Seems like they say a fair amount. The right is partially animated by xenophobia and male insecurity. The left is willing to trade some free speech to stop hate speech. Certainly true of Europe, where racist and fascist speech and symbols are often illegal. They also tend to have tighter libel and slander laws compared to America, IIRC. Yes, true in Europe, though I’m unaware that such laws are promoted by Europe’s left and opposed by Europe’s right. But I don’t accept that it’s true here for any significant portion of the left just based on a few assholes. Liberals tend to poll a bit higher on support for government restrictions of hate speech, but conservatives tend to poll a big higher on support for government restrictions on blasphemy or obscene speech. On neither side do anything close to a majority oppose free speech rights. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/262 "2017-02-14T20:40:59Z")
Hey, **octopus** , would you mind responding to literally any of my examples? ---
**Author:** ![Keirnoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/858c86/32.png) [@Keirnoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keirnoth)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/263 "2017-02-14T21:17:07Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > All of the liberals in this thread, and almost all of the liberals I have ever known, unambiguously support free speech and the 1st Amendment. That’s not a proper representative sample though. If you take the average millennial liberal these days - not you, not anyone in this thread, but Joe P. Hipster off the street, (maybe those kids who were crying when God Emperor Trump got elected) I’m pretty sure they’ll think something along the lines of that stupid XKCD comic. Perhaps we need to do a survey of what the average liberals views are when it comes to freedom of expression. There’s also a growing population of liberals, however, who are starting to realize how much of a bad precedent that comic represents. One of the big issues with that comic is once you start to determine what kind of speech is or isn’t allowed, it’s only a matter of time when the rules are turned on YOU. I’m in that group of liberals who are aware of how bad of a precedent that comic is. Disagreeing with modern feminism is not hate speech. Refuting Black Lives Matter because you believe the movement was founded on false pretenses is not hate speech. Speaking out against people who are openly racist against white people is not hate speech. You all may know this, but you all are good at very nuanced conversation, but think about the masses - I don’t think a lot of people are like that, whether through ignorance or laziness. I think the other problem here is how the left has appropriated the word “liberal” when the original definition of liberal meant more of a libertarian deal, e.g. being financially conservative by keeping the government away from excessive legislation and taxes and also being socially liberal by keeping the government from legislating individual freedoms that don’t directly harm other individuals. That’s not what it means in the US - it essentially just means progressive in the US, so that term is somewhat confusing since if you go by the literal definition of what a liberal is, the economic policies of a left-winger is anything BUT liberal. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/264 "2017-02-14T21:28:36Z")
> [@Keirnoth](#): > > That’s not a proper representative sample though. If you take the average millennial liberal these days - not you, not anyone in this thread, but Joe P. Hipster off the street, (maybe those kids who were crying when God Emperor Trump got elected) I’m pretty sure they’ll think something along the lines of that stupid XKCD comic. Perhaps we need to do a survey of what the average liberals views are when it comes to freedom of expression. > > There’s also a growing population of liberals, however, who are starting to realize how much of a bad precedent that comic represents. One of the big issues with that comic is once you start to determine what kind of speech is or isn’t allowed, it’s only a matter of time when the rules are turned on YOU. I’m in that group of liberals who are aware of how bad of a precedent that comic is. > > Disagreeing with modern feminism is not hate speech. Refuting Black Lives Matter because you believe the movement was founded on false pretenses is not hate speech. Speaking out against people who are openly racist against white people is not hate speech. You all may know this, but you all are good at very nuanced conversation, but think about the masses - I don’t think a lot of people are like that, whether through ignorance or laziness. > > I think the other problem here is how the left has appropriated the word “liberal” when the original definition of liberal meant more of a libertarian deal, e.g. being financially conservative by keeping the government away from excessive legislation and taxes and also being socially liberal by keeping the government from legislating individual freedoms that don’t directly harm other individuals. > > That’s not what it means in the US - it essentially just means progressive in the US, so that term is somewhat confusing since if you go by the literal definition of what a liberal is, the economic policies of a left-winger is anything BUT liberal. Can you point to the comic you’re alluding to? If it’s the one I’m thinking of, then I don’t understand what it has to do with your point. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/265 "2017-02-14T21:38:29Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Hey, **octopus** , would you mind responding to literally any of my examples? I did respond to some of your examples. I disagree with your premise that words are intrinsically hateful especially when the real world is full of examples of so-called slurs being used in a non slur like manner. As you did and as I mentioned you did. Should you be fired? But I’ll respond again, even though I’ve said I didn’t want to get stuck in the quagmire of precise definitions. What precisely is obscenity? Hmm. Have fun with that. > [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > You continue to dodge my examples. Could you please address that? If you get fired for calling a customer a “nigger”, is that “PC”? Fire away. However, I do have a problem with how the NBA treated Sterling and how WWE or WWF or whatever it is now treated Hulk Hogan. What you say to one’s skank is one’s personal business. > [@](#): > > How about if you get fired for posting a transphobic meme to your facebook account? I’m not a fan of firing people for facebook stuff. > [@](#): > > How about if you get criticized by a journalist for saying something bigoted? Journalists should be reporting the news not editorializing. > [@](#): > > Or criticized because they misunderstood you and thought you said something bigoted when you in fact did not? Is _that_ “PC”? Journalists should be reporting the news not editorializing. Anyways, here’s some nonsense that may or may not be PC but is 100% ridiculous. [http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/07/31/political-correctness-brown-bag-citizens-are-out/](http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/07/31/political-correctness-brown-bag-citizens-are-out/) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/266 "2017-02-14T21:40:12Z")
I’m reminded of a Churchill quote: _“Some people believe that free speech means that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.”_ To be fair, there are righties and lefties alike who both exhibit that behavior. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/267 "2017-02-14T21:54:07Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I did respond to some of your examples. I disagree with your premise that words are intrinsically hateful especially when the real world is full of examples of so-called slurs being used in a non slur like manner. As you did and as I mentioned you did. Should you be fired? > > But I’ll respond again, even though I’ve said I didn’t want to get stuck in the quagmire of precise definitions. What precisely is obscenity? Hmm. Have fun with that. > > Fire away. However, I do have a problem with how the NBA treated Sterling and how WWE or WWF or whatever it is now treated Hulk Hogan. What you say to one’s skank is one’s personal business. > > I’m not a fan of firing people for facebook stuff. > > Journalists should be reporting the news not editorializing. > > Journalists should be reporting the news not editorializing. > > Anyways, here’s some nonsense that may or may not be PC but is 100% ridiculous. [http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/07/31/political-correctness-brown-bag-citizens-are-out/](http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/07/31/political-correctness-brown-bag-citizens-are-out/) So, what it comes down to is that you should be able to say anything at all that you like, and that there may be no consequences to that speech. Unless of course, that speech is asking for a more polite discourse, in which case you are free to tell them to shut the hell right on up. Even if you are a public figure, who represents your brand in public, it doesn’t matter what you say, or how you say it, or to whom it is said, it is absolutely impermissible for your platform to be removed. Anyone that was giving you a platform to speak may never rescind it, based on your language. So, your buddy Hogan coulda gone on to call out all his fans or opponents by the most vile ethnic slurs, but by your reasoning, he could never be fired or censured in any way. Anyone who has bought anything may not boycott those goods or services if it is determined that they purveyors of those goods and services may not represent the consumers views. No, you are required to continue buying the product or service, no matter your personal feelings on the matter. Anyone who employees anyone may not ever fire a person for them using inappropriate language at or towards their co-worker’s or clients. I may fire for any reason, except in the cases of them harming my reputation or other employees (which is actually fine, because it would be illegal for my clients to stop coming just because I employ a racist.) And yes, this sounds like a pretty silly system, but it is the system that _you_ are fantasizing about. One in which there is never any consequence to any kind of hateful speech you may desire to hurl at anyone at any time. If you think that this goes to far, I’ll ask you directly, if one of my employees calls one of my clients or a co-worker by an ethnic, misogynistic, or otherwise hateful slur, by your standards, am I allowed to fire them? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/268 "2017-02-14T22:04:50Z")
If I have a salesman who goes on a Nazi rant on Facebook, which gets out publicly, then purely on selfish and market based, capitalist interest, I’d be foolish not to fire him, since his racist rants are now likely to harm my business. Do you really object to this, \*\* octopus\*\*? ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/269 "2017-02-14T22:22:38Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I did respond to some of your examples. I disagree with your premise that words are intrinsically hateful especially when the real world is full of examples of so-called slurs being used in a non slur like manner. As you did and as I mentioned you did. Should you be fired? > > But I’ll respond again, even though I’ve said I didn’t want to get stuck in the quagmire of precise definitions. What precisely is obscenity? Hmm. Have fun with that. > > Fire away. But is it “PC”? > [@](#): > > However, I do have a problem with how the NBA treated Sterling and how WWE or WWF or whatever it is now treated Hulk Hogan. **What you say to one’s skank** is one’s personal business. (Emphasis mine) _Wow_. So _here’s_ a question - if I point out that that’s a really nasty statement to make, is _that_ me just being “PC”? And when the NBA fired Sterling for being a racist douchebag, was _that_ PC? > [@](#): > > I’m not a fan of firing people for facebook stuff. But is it “PC”? You say you’re not a “fan” of it, but is it PC, or is it just someone going too far in trying to not associate with bigots? Or is that what “PC” means? > [@](#): > > Journalists should be reporting the news not editorializing. But is it “PC”? > [@](#): > > Anyways, here’s some nonsense that may or may not be PC Yeah. No kidding. Notice how you _didn’t answer the question_? Not even a little bit. You offered your _opinion_ on a handful of issues, but you never actually said whether or not you considered them “PC”. I _still_ don’t know whether you consider _any_ of those things listed “PC”. Hell, _you_ don’t even seem to know whether this last example is “PC”. Given that you’re the one using the term, I’d say that’s a problem. I won’t disagree that it’s silly, but I will still freely point out that the _term_ is nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/270 "2017-02-14T22:27:15Z")
Again, I think we need to delineate between genuinely offensive speech, and speech which, if considered “offensive,” indicates an oversensitive or persecutive complex. 1. Calling people the N word = bad. 2. Using the term “retarding parachute” to describe how a parachute slows an object’s fall (I believe that is the technical term, the parachute is “retarding your descent”) is a legitimate use of the R word. Just like how saying “abort mission” has nothing to do with aborting a fetus. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/271 "2017-02-15T00:33:25Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > If I have a salesman who goes on a Nazi rant on Facebook, which gets out publicly, then purely on selfish and market based, capitalist interest, I’d be foolish not to fire him, since his racist rants are now likely to harm my business. > > Do you really object to this, \*\* octopus\*\*? I find a lot of the Old Testament outrageous. Can I fire someone for quoting that? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/272 "2017-02-15T00:36:30Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > So, what it comes down to is that you should be able to say anything at all that you like, and that there may be no consequences to that speech. Unless of course, that speech is asking for a more polite discourse, in which case you are free to tell them to shut the hell right on up. > > Even if you are a public figure, who represents your brand in public, it doesn’t matter what you say, or how you say it, or to whom it is said, it is absolutely impermissible for your platform to be removed. Anyone that was giving you a platform to speak may never rescind it, based on your language. So, your buddy Hogan coulda gone on to call out all his fans or opponents by the most vile ethnic slurs, but by your reasoning, he could never be fired or censured in any way. > > Anyone who has bought anything may not boycott those goods or services if it is determined that they purveyors of those goods and services may not represent the consumers views. No, you are required to continue buying the product or service, no matter your personal feelings on the matter. > > Anyone who employees anyone may not ever fire a person for them using inappropriate language at or towards their co-worker’s or clients. I may fire for any reason, except in the cases of them harming my reputation or other employees (which is actually fine, because it would be illegal for my clients to stop coming just because I employ a racist.) > And yes, this sounds like a pretty silly system, but it is the system that _you_ are fantasizing about. One in which there is never any consequence to any kind of hateful speech you may desire to hurl at anyone at any time. > > If you think that this goes to far, I’ll ask you directly, if one of my employees calls one of my clients or a co-worker by an ethnic, misogynistic, or otherwise hateful slur, by your standards, am I allowed to fire them? That’s not what I said. And I don’t want to get into a endless debate on nitpickery. I will say that taking PC to the extreme that it has been taken is counterproductive. I’m not the only one saying this. The former president thought people were getting silly. Was he making stuff up? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/273 "2017-02-15T00:38:25Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I find a lot of the Old Testament outrageous. Can I fire someone for quoting that? Legally I’m not sure – that might be protected as religious expression. If the only things he posted were about stoning gay people, then his actions might start to hurt your business. If you were losing customers because of your salesman, would you want to have the option to fire him? Are you trying to say that my business should be doomed because I can’t fire this Nazi prick and I lose all my customers, and there’s nothing I can do about it? That kind of sucks for me and other business owners. I answered your question… could you answer mine? Do you really object to a business owner firing someone because their Facebook Nazi rants have caused a loss of customers? ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/274 "2017-02-15T00:45:59Z")
> [@Keirnoth](#): > > I think the other problem here is how the left has appropriated the word “liberal” when the original definition of liberal meant more of a libertarian deal, e.g. being financially conservative by keeping the government away from excessive legislation and taxes and also being socially liberal by keeping the government from legislating individual freedoms that don’t directly harm other individuals. > > That’s not what it means in the US - it essentially just means progressive in the US, so that term is somewhat confusing since if you go by the literal definition of what a liberal is, the economic policies of a left-winger is anything BUT liberal. I don’t think these labels matter to the discussion, but I’ll give my thoughts. Liberal’s modern connotations goes back quite a ways. It was a reaction to capitalist excesses in the late 19th and early 20th century. The original libertarians were radical left anti-capitalists. In America, “libertarianism” means pro-capitalist right-libertarianism. On the spectrum, I tend to think of it going (from left to right): socialist, socdem, progressive, liberal. In socialist discussions, “liberal” is basically a synonym for “capitalists.” In right discussions, “liberal” is everything to the left of them, no matter how far right they are. I’m actually not sure if there’s a meaningful difference between progressives and socdems, except I would say progs focus mostly on race, sex, and other social issues, whereas socdems focus on class and labor. Lots of overlap there, though. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/275 "2017-02-15T00:48:57Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Legally I’m not sure – that might be protected as religious expression. If the only things he posted were about stoning gay people, then his actions might start to hurt your business. If you were losing customers because of your salesman, would you want to have the option to fire him? > > Are you trying to say that my business should be doomed because I can’t fire this Nazi prick and I lose all my customers, and there’s nothing I can do about it? That kind of sucks for me and other business owners. > > I answered your question… could you answer mine? I think businesses ought to be able to terminate with relative ease. Regardless of the reason. However I’m not comfortable with people being fired for their private lives. Should I fire everyone who has a pro Hillary bumper sticker? I find it sinister that a private conversation that is secretly recorded can cause such damage. I’d rather deal with racists, nazis, communists, sexists, and even internet trolls than live in a society where the thought and speech police can ruin your life. I’m also not a fan of some speech being protected and other speech not protected. I don’t think religion is anything special. When does an ideology become a religion? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/276 "2017-02-15T00:57:09Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I think businesses ought to be able to terminate with relative ease. Regardless of the reason. Including for race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion? > [@](#): > > However I’m not comfortable with people being fired for their private lives. Should I fire everyone who has a pro Hillary bumper sticker? I find it sinister that a private conversation that is secretly recorded can cause such damage. I’d rather deal with racists, nazis, communists, sexists, and even internet trolls than live in a society where the thought and speech police can ruin your life. But what’s the alternative? My business is doomed because I can’t fire this racist asshole? I know that I would be less likely to shop at a place that knowingly employs someone who advocates for white supremacy. I expect there are lots of folks like me who would prefer their dollars don’t go towards helping white supremacists. > [@](#): > > I’m also not a fan of some speech being protected and other speech not protected. I don’t think religion is anything special. When does an ideology become a religion? I think that’s a separate issue, but it comes from a history of employment discrimination that was a big part of differing levels of opportunity based on race, religion, etc. I think such laws are necessary to prevent the return of sundown towns and their ilk (which still exist, to some degree – Vidor, TX is one example). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/277 "2017-02-15T01:09:59Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I think businesses ought to be able to terminate with relative ease. Regardless of the reason. > > However I’m not comfortable with people being fired for their private lives. Should I fire everyone who has a pro Hillary bumper sticker? I find it sinister that a private conversation that is secretly recorded can cause such damage. I’d rather deal with racists, nazis, communists, sexists, and even internet trolls than live in a society where the thought and speech police can ruin your life. > > I’m also not a fan of some speech being protected and other speech not protected. I don’t think religion is anything special. When does an ideology become a religion? Someone can be fired for all sorts of things. Firing someone for accidentally bumping into a customer is probably a bad idea; firing someone for glaring at a customer and body-checking them on purpose is a great idea. Firing someone for saying “thank you” to a customer is a bad idea; firing someone for saying “fuck you” to a customer is a great idea. If a teacher in his day off writes a post on Facebook describing his participation in the Women’s March, firing him for that is a bad idea. It’s extraordinarily unlikely to reflect on how he’ll treat his students. if a teacher in his day off writes a post on Facebook describing his participation in a Klan rally where they burned a black effigy, firing him for that is entirely different; it likely reflects his attitudes toward black students and how he’ll treat them. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/278 "2017-02-15T13:24:39Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > I’d rather deal with racists, nazis, communists, sexists, and even internet trolls than live in a society where the thought and speech police can ruin your life. Those particular groups are not generally well known for their respectful positions towards speech and, you know, existence of some people. This is a weird fucking position. Could you give an example of someone who had their life ruined thanks to “the thought and speech police”? Because I think I can give a rare guarantee that I can match that up with people many times over whose lives were ruined by the other groups. This is a spectacularly pro-oppression viewpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/279 "2017-02-15T13:39:28Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > This is a weird fucking position. Could you give an example of someone who had their life ruined thanks to “the thought and speech police”? This is real easy. Emmett Till. Sandra Bland (okay, the real police were involved, but it was her speech that led to her arrest). Dalton Trumbo. Anita Sarkeesian. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600/280 "2017-02-15T13:46:04Z")
I would’ve pegged the life-ruiners in those cases as being examples of those groups whom **octopus** would much prefer to live alongside, Dalton Trumbo aside. Which is my point; racists don’t seek to oppress speech and existence? Sexists don’t? Nazis don’t? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehabilitating-political-correctness-s-negative-image/778600.md?page=15)