Quote:
Originally Posted by Drolefille
I'd leave it at "use the terms people use to describe themselves" but that really doesn't cover everything . . . .
. . . . but it is not hard for me to use the correct words or to acknowledge that I don't get to use the same words that other people do and still be considered polite.
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Ah, there's the rub though. I'm fine with call people what they call themselves, but sometimes that means there's not a "correct" word, and the problem is attempting to enforce a correctness that doesn't really exist.
For example, I don't mind saying "Indian" (or "American Indian") and I don't mind saying "Native American." I don't want to offend. But I have been castigated for not saying "Native American" even though I have been told by my "Native American" friends that they don't like to be called that, that they prefer to be called by their tribe or to be called [American] Indians. So what's a person to do, pay attention to people they know or pay attention to those who have decided which term is "correct" and will correct you if you don't follow their lead?
(And I'm not saying no one prefers to be called Native American. I'm just saying that friends have told me they don't like to be called Native American, but I'm sure others do prefer it. I'm just trying to be respectful.)
And I think PCness goes further than that. Frankly, I think "pledge" vs. "new member" and "rush" vs. "recruitment"
can veer into the realm of PC.
I'm totally with you on being polite and considerate. But I'm not with you on thinking that there aren't some overzealous political correctness police out there. I've met them all too often.
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