PC Poppycock ...
Just had to share this ... it seriously makes me wonder if the median IQ across the globe is going down, or if it's just that more people are rising to their level of incompetence ... ;-)
"Deferred Success" is new term for failure?
By Arthur Spiegelman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In 2005, some people wanted the word "brainstorming" replaced by "thought shower" so as not to offend people with brain disorders, and they also wanted "deferred success" to replace "failure" so as not to embarrass those who don't succeed.
Both phrases appear on a tongue-in-cheek list released on Thursday of the year's most politically correct words and phrases issued by Global Language Monitor, a nonprofit group that monitors language use.
The phrase that topped this year's list was "misguided criminals," one of several terms the British Broadcasting Corporation used so as not to use the word "terrorist" in describing those who carried out train and bus bombings in London that killed 52 people in July, according to Paul JJ Payack, the head of Global Language Monitor.
He added, "The BBC attempts to strip away all emotion by using what it considers 'neutral' descriptions when describing those who carried out the bombings in the London Tubes."
Second on the list was "Intrinsic Aptitude," a phrase used by Harvard University President Lawrence Summers to explain why women might be underrepresented in engineering and science. The phrase met with "deferred success" and Summers had to fight to keep to his job.
"Thought shower" was third and a French word for riff-raff or scum, "la racaille," was fourth thanks to being used by French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy to describe rioters of Muslim and North African descent in suburbs outside of Paris.
"Out of the mainstream," which Payack said was used to describe the ideology of any political opponent, was fifth and in sixth place was "deferred success" the euphemism for "fail" that Britain's Professional Association of Teachers considered using to bolster students' "self-esteem." The move met with "deferred success."
Seventh on the list was "womyn" for women in order to distance the word from men and eighth was using C.E. (Common Era) for A.D (Latin for "Year of Our Lord") so as to be more neutral in dates.
Ninth on the top 10 list was words and phrases that either de-Christianize the Christian holidays or neuter their genders. For example "God Rest Ye Merry Persons" replaces "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Seasons Greetings" replaces "Merry Christmas."
In 10th place was a move aimed at the heart of Australian culture when security staff were banned from using the word "mate" to address members of parliament. The MPs rebelled and said not being called "mate" was unpatriotic.
Reuters.com; "Oddly Enough News Article";
Last visited: 19 Nov 2005; Last updated: 19 Nov 2005;
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posted by Moof | 8:28 AM
2 Comments:
I have never been a fan of political correctness because I believe that it is the same thing as lying.
I have several little "sayings" that I have invented over the years. Little guidelines that I tend to personally follow. Most of my 'sayings' have been developed over the years while raising children and dealing with employees.
If you are vague in your communications, such as what political correctness touts, you will find that you are misunderstood a lot of the time. Additionally, I find that political correctness is used by many public officials as a "mommie's skirt" to hide behind when they don't have the courage to stand up for what is right or wrong. The fear of offending constituents and losing political positioning drives many a decision.
It's the same problem that plagues many parents today. They're afraid of offending their children and losing their "love".
A lot of times people need to hear a plain spoken truth.
One of my little sayings is: "Say what you mean and mean what you say."
Thank you for your comment, T.J.! I agree with everything you've said. Communication is difficult enough without couching it in sheer silliness.
I consider PC to be part of the "dumbing down" of society. God help us! Where are we going to end up?
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