# What should "speaking uncomfortable truth" be called, instead of "political incorrectness?" (finding a substitute word) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 26, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820 "2024-07-26T16:39:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [July 26, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/1 "2024-07-26T16:39:43Z")
In any given society, workforce or political system, there is an expectation to toe the line - whatever the line may be. There are also times when uncomfortable truths will start to crop up - an emperor’s new clothes situation, or whatnot. For instance, someone in 1960s China having to be the one to tell the government, “No, our farmers are **not** having bumper crop harvests, and we in fact **are** headed towards a famine.” Or being the person to tell the C-suite, “No, our workers **are** in fact leaving in droves because of low wages, and if the CEO were to cut his pay by $10 million and give that to workers, we’d be able to keep a lot of our good laborers.” Or someone having to tell the high school football coach, “No, your son is **not** a good quarterback, and we’re going to keep losing if we have him behind center.” Or someone in the 1850s South saying “No, slavery is NOT right and we should not continue it.” The term “political correctness” or “PC” has become so loaded and impossible to agree on what it even means at all, so it may be time to find another term to use. But in each of those situations listed above, there is an official line that is “PC” that is to be toed (for instance, in Communist China, it was PC to say that harvests were great, and un-PC to say that famine was actually on the way. In the corporate suite, it’s PC to say that wages and salaries are good enough, and un-PC to say that workers need more pay and that the CEO is overpaid. In the football team, it’s PC to say that the coach’s son is a good QB, and un-PC to say that he’s not a good QB. In the 1800s South, you were expected to support slavery, and if you opposed it, then YOU were the wrong person. etc.) “Speaking truth to power” is an alternative that captures the essence, but it’s rather long-winded and doesn’t roll off the tongue as fast. What other substitute words can be used? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/2 "2024-07-26T17:14:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > “Speaking truth to power” is an alternative that captures the essence, but it’s rather long-winded and doesn’t roll off the tongue as fast. What other substitute words can be used? “Speaking truth to power” is six syllables, to “political incorrectness” 's eight. I’m not sure you’re going to get better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/3 "2024-07-26T17:20:35Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The term “political correctness” or “PC” has become so loaded and impossible to agree on what it even means at all True, but in addition, I don’t think “political correctness” ever meant what you are talking about, at least not in its primary connotation. From Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Since the late 1980s, the term has been used to describe a preference for [inclusive language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inclusive_language) and avoidance of language or behavior that can be seen as [excluding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_exclusion), marginalizing, or insulting to groups of people disadvantaged or discriminated against, particularly groups defined by ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. In public discourse and the media,[[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness#cite_note-Kohl-4)[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness#cite_note-Schultz-1993a-8)[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness#cite_note-Friedman-9) the term is generally used as a [pejorative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pejorative) with an implication that these policies are excessive or unwarranted.[[10]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness#cite_note-Charles-Wartella-10)[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness#cite_note-Hughes-11) In other words, it’s not about whether you’re standing up to those in power but about whether you’re being sensitive to those who are less empowered. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/4 "2024-07-26T17:27:22Z")
“Spitting facts,” “spitting straight facts,” “spitting truth(s)” have gained popularity since their coinage in rap lyrics ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/5 "2024-07-26T18:00:02Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > True, but in addition, I don’t think “political correctness” ever meant what you are talking about, at least not in its primary connotation. Yes, I would say that the facts that OP is describing might be more correctly identified a “politically inconvenient” or perhaps “counterorthodox”. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/6 "2024-07-26T18:22:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I don’t think “political correctness” ever meant what you are talking about Agree. “Political correctness” was just the name then for what is now called “woke.” The provided examples, toeing an official line, are simply “political.” ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/7 "2024-07-26T18:34:37Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > > I don’t think “political correctness” ever meant what you are talking about > > Agree. “Political correctness” was just the name then for what is now called “woke.” Yup. – there’s “telling it like it is”, but that’s been pretty thoroughly co-opted by people telling it like it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/8 "2024-07-26T19:01:51Z")
Unvarnished truth. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/9 "2024-07-26T19:05:56Z")
Realism / Realpolitik. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/10 "2024-07-26T19:27:32Z")
Honesty ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/11 "2024-07-26T19:47:59Z")
The term is “the emperor has no clothes”. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/12 "2024-07-26T19:55:37Z")
Yeah I’d say the idea that political incorrectness is synonymous with telling unpalatable truths, rather than just saying horrible bigoted things, was invented by pseudointellectual conservative commentators who wanted to say horrible bigoted things. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/13 "2024-07-26T19:56:59Z")
The Straight Dope. I mean, that’s what it is, right? Let’s also be frank, “Politically Incorrect” has never been about telling the truth, it’s about defending one’s habit of being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/14 "2024-07-27T07:55:08Z")
“Politically Correct” [originally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_incorrect#History) meant fanatic adherence to political dogma in general. > In the early-to-mid 20th century, the phrase _politically correct_ was used to describe strict adherence to a range of ideological orthodoxies within politics. In 1934, _[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times)_ reported that Nazi Germany was granting reporting permits “only to pure ‘Aryans’ whose opinions are politically correct”.[[5]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politically_incorrect#cite_note-Gibson-5) > > The term _political correctness_ first appeared in Marxist–Leninist vocabulary following the Russian Revolution of 1917. At that time, it was used to describe strict adherence to the policies and principles of the [Communist Party of the Soviet Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union), that is, the [party line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_line_(politics)). Since then of course its meaning has bounced all over. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/15 "2024-07-27T08:12:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The term is “the emperor has no clothes”. Covered in the O.P. I believe: > [@Velocity](#): > > There are also times when uncomfortable truths will start to crop up - an emperor’s new clothes situation, or whatnot. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/16 "2024-07-27T10:54:19Z")
“Saying what everyone’s thinking” ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-speaking-uncomfortable-truth-be-called-instead-of-political-incorrectness-finding-a-substitute-word/1004820/17 "2024-07-27T12:06:32Z")
“Not lying”. All of the examples in the OP are people just lying about shit. So, just don’t lie.