# What's "politically correct/incorrect" in non-Western cultures? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 31, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773 "2016-03-31T19:09:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/21 "2016-04-02T13:32:27Z")
Yeah. It’s not a political thing. It’s better than it was IMHO. For instance, it was politically un-correct to call the hole that is used to access utilities a Manhole. It’s a Person hole. Complete silly bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/22 "2016-04-02T18:24:10Z")
As other posters have already alluded to with their mentions of the “racism” of other cultures, political correctness is a distinctly Western phenomenon. The Prime Directive of the modern liberal West is that equality and non-discrimination are the greatest moral goods, and inequality and discrimination the greatest evils. “Political correctness” is really just a term for the moral castigation of any speech that seems to contradict this principle. Other cultures don’t have this because they don’t think there’s anything wrong with viewing or treating different people or groups unequally or discriminating between them. ---
**Author:** ![doubleminus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@doubleminus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doubleminus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/23 "2016-04-02T22:14:30Z")
> [@](#): > > And in much of Israeli society, it’s verboten to talk about the occupation or to sympathize with the plight of Palestinians. This is absolute BS. People may have strong opinions, but this is certainly a common debate. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/24 "2016-04-03T01:00:17Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > With all the debate about “PC” in the West, I wanted to explore - What’s “politically correct/incorrect” in **non** -Western cultures? In USSR, [Anti-Soviet agitation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Soviet_agitation) was politically incorrect. According to Penal Code of 1967, Article 190-1, the penalty was up to 3 years of imprisonment. Persistent offenders were committed as criminally insane. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/25 "2016-04-03T01:11:15Z")
In Pakistan desecrating Koran can be punished by burning. In Europe prior to XVIII – th century most of those who blasphemed the New Testament were burned. In Russia during the reign of Peter the Great some people willingly spoke against him – and even though they were executed they are considered holy by Old Believer Orthodox Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/26 "2016-04-03T01:42:49Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > In Pakistan desecrating Koran can be punished by burning. In Europe prior to XVIII – th century most of those who blasphemed the New Testament were burned. > > In Russia during the reign of Peter the Great some people willingly spoke against him – and even though they were executed they are considered holy by Old Believer Orthodox Christians. While those things are terrible, they’re not really what the OP is talking about - they’re talking more about the Asian equivalent of saying something like “Feminism isn’t about equality, it’s about extra/special rights for women”. In other words, something that’s not actually _illegal_, but will almost certainly get your social media feed spammed by angry, angry people and (in extreme cases) lead to potentially career-threatening (or ending) situations. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/27 "2016-04-03T02:11:17Z")
In USA, jailing someone **free** for their opinions is hard. But people on probation can be **jailed** for saying anything their Probation Officer does not like and especially denying their offense. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/28 "2016-04-03T07:29:33Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > In other words, something that’s not actually _illegal_, but will almost certainly get your social media feed spammed by angry, angry people and (in extreme cases) lead to potentially career-threatening (or ending) situations. In Thailand, “lese majestie” eg insulting the king, is actually a crime. But if you were to post something that was critical of the royal family but not insulting you would get a barrage of angry replies on social media. He is deeply loved here. Long live the King ! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2016, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/29 "2016-04-03T07:36:43Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > In Thailand, “lese majestie” eg insulting the king, is actually a crime. But if you were to post something that was critical of the royal family but not insulting you would get a barrage of angry replies on social media. He is deeply loved here. > > Long live the King ! Of course he’s loved. After all, you only hear good things about him. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/30 "2016-04-05T07:17:53Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > For instance, it was politically un-correct to call the hole that is used to access utilities a Manhole. It’s a Person hole. Complete silly bullshit. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![T.M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@T.M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.M)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/31 "2016-04-05T08:13:49Z")
Political correctness has nothing to do with state or local politics, it is a means for small minded people to actually find something to say at meetings where they would otherwise keep quiet because they have nothing of value to say. Political correctness can have its entertainment value as you refuse to play their game causing shock and horror among the permanently offended pc brigade. I attend many meetings where pc eats into valuable discussion time on important subjects, would you believe 30 minuets to discuss what to call the leader of the meeting chairman, chairwoman, chairperson or even the chair that was decided upon, I did not win any friends by telling the woman that she had the legs for the job. As you have probably discovered by now that I am completely anti the pc brigade who I believe were put on this earth for me to torment ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/32 "2016-04-05T08:34:00Z")
“Political correctness” is a concept which is employed purely negatively. There may have been a few short years when people positively urged one another to be politically correct - if there were, I am to young to remember them - but for decades now the concept has only been employed by people who claim to reject it. It’ll turn up in a statement like "I know it’s not politically correct, but . . . ", followed by some claim which the speaker knows is indefensible. In this context, political correctness is invoked in an attempt to present the indefensibility as a virtue. The OP asks “what’s ‘politically correct/incorrect’ in non-Western cultures?” The fact is that in Western culture very few things are identified as politically correct; things only ever get identified as politically incorrect, and then only in anticipation of criticism. Presumably there are plenty of opinions which in other cultures will reliably attract criticism; the real question is whether people in those other cultures share the belief current in some circles in the West that, by acknowledging the fact that their views will attract criticism, they somehow defuse or invalidate that criticism. This is not a logical belief but it is a very comforting, gratifying one to those who hold it so I’m guessing that, yes, it’s a belief which will be found in many cultures. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/33 "2016-04-05T08:54:14Z")
My understanding is that “politically correct” began as a 60s joke on humourless Marxists, in relation to what an earlier generation would simply have considered good manners: that you don’t assume everyone you speak to shares your preconceptions and prejudices, and you check and moderate your own speech and behaviour accordingly, particularly in relation to racial/ethnic and gender stereotypes. In that sense, of course other cultures have their own versions; but they can be startlingly blunt about things we’re more squeamish about. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/34 "2016-04-05T13:53:38Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > In USA, jailing someone **free** for their opinions is hard. But people on probation can be **jailed** for saying anything their Probation Officer does not like and especially denying their offense. That’s not quite how that works; technically, they’ve been convicted of the offence and sentenced to jail time, and the probation period is more of a chance to prove that they’re not deserving of that jail time by not screwing up during that period. You have to be one dumb MF-er to go saying dumb stuff like denying your offense to your probation officer during your probation period. You probably deserve to be in jail if you’re that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/35 "2016-04-05T14:09:25Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > For instance, it was politically un-correct to call the hole that is used to access utilities a Manhole. It’s a Person hole. Complete silly bullshit. Well, that last part is true. “Personhole” has only ever been a thing among people making fun of political correctness. For example, George Carlin: > [@](#): > > They want me to call that thing in the street a “personhole cover.” I think that’s taking it a little bit too far! ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/36 "2016-04-05T15:44:35Z")
Referring to the elderly in unflattering or irreverent ways might be considered less politically correct there than in the West. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/37 "2016-04-05T15:50:08Z")
That’s not un-PC, it’s impolite. Two different things. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/38 "2016-04-05T16:08:42Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > That’s not un-PC, it’s impolite. Two different things. No, it’s the exact same thing. Political correctness means identifying a group using terminology they do not find offensive, because to do so would be impolite. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/39 "2016-04-05T16:26:44Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > No, it’s the exact same thing. Political correctness means identifying a group using terminology they do not find offensive, because to do so would be impolite. We have a different definition of PC then. “PC,” in America, to me, is the anecdote about a woman who objected to an illustration of Confederate soldiers…because the soldiers were depicted as holding a Confederate flag. You know, _the flag they actually carried in real life._ ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773/40 "2016-04-05T16:26:56Z")
> [@john\_b\_2](#): > > The French also seem, to me, relatively free of the stern either/or Calvinism of the North Which is somewhat ironic, as John Calvin was French. Though, of course, he did much of his work in Switzerland (so more East than North 😉 ), due to the Catholic Church’s persecutions of those who were Reformation minded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-politically-correct-incorrect-in-non-western-cultures/750773.md?page=3)