Thread: Common courtesy doesn't equal political correctness or does it ?

Another thread where PC is put down got me to thinking.... where does common courtesy stop and political correctness begin ? I admire courteous and polite people very much. I tended to be brusque with telephone solicitors and others who call at the shop or even uninvited phone calls at home.

One of my co-workers became a great example for me of common courtesy. He is so friendly and polite to anyone who calls that I came to admire that and changed my demeanor since then. Remembering to treat people as I would like to be treated.

An amusing example came to mind in this quote taken from a broadcast on Jimmy Carter in the American Experience series on PBS. Here is the quote, bear with it as it is long but it is great IMO.

Doug Brinkley: There's that wonderful story of Miss Lillian when one reporter a woman from New York came down to Plains, and Miss Lillian greeted her and said, "Welcome to Plains. You know, it's so nice to see you. Would you like some lemonade? How was your journey, your dress is beautiful." You know, poring on the Southern hospitality. And the reporter jumped right in on Miss Lillian and said, "Now Miss Lillian, your son is running for president saying he'll never tell a lie. As a mother, are you telling me he's never told a lie?" She goes, "Oh well Jimmy tells white lies all the time." And the reporter said, well tell me what, what do you mean? What is a white lie?" And Miss Lillian said, "Well, remember when I said, welcome to Plains and how good it is to see you? That's a white lie."

Have you been prancing around in my mind again Jimmy? I was just about to start this same thread on the idea of good manners and common courtesy.

I was watching my children, particularly my oldest who is rather resistant to the idea of good manners. we say things like "Dont talk with your mouth full." "Say please and thank you" etc, etc. But today it occurred to me that while we were trying to teach them the actions of good manners we were not teaching the spirit or essence of common courtesy and good manners. So I will tell you what I told my children: The essence of good manners, and this is all you need to know, is consider others first.

As far as PC, I believe that can appear to be good manners but instead of stemming from a thoughtfulness of others it stems from a fear of what others might think of you.

I think many people have forgotten what common courtesy is. It doesn't take much to hold a door or something.

I think that in public I am a pretty courteous guy generally. How ever, I am prone to 'courtesy rage' that is, when I make the effort to help some one out and they can't be arsed to acknowledge it. Man that annoys me.

I am getting to be an old man who came of age in a different place and time. Here in this NY Times article is an example of what I consider a coarsening of our culture. Or maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I am getting to be an old man who came of age in a different place and time. Here in this NY Times article is an example of what I consider a coarsening of our culture. Or maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy.

I do agree with you but then I am an old fuddy duddy also

I don't see an intersection between common courtesy and "Political Correctness". I guess it depends on what you consider PC to be (assuming everyone understands courtesy, common or otherwise, which I basically equate with politeness and consideration of others).

I think the term PC equates to the act of adopting terminology that presumes your own personal political orientation and then promoting the idea that the use or non use (depending on the term in question) of that terminology is a form of bigotry. It is messing with the language and culture in a dishonest way to make any disagreement with your personal politics difficult to express without stirring up a lot of smoke and dust. Read 1984.

This has escalated beyond language (where it originated) to attitude and behavior. The Fort Hood shooter was only able to get where he was through a series of situations made possible by the fear of retribution that pervasive PC has created. No one wanted to be the first "bigot" (a career-threatening tag to be stuck with) even though the several situations that should have been been acted on had nothing to do with actual bigotry. "Diversity" and "multiculturalism" were the trump cards that blocked any proper response. PC kills. Not in theory but in observed fact.

The above is probably not a PC definition of PC.

Well, I'm still not sure what equates PC these days, but I think that for me, common courtesy SHOULD include what a lot of people consider political correctness. Because, at their base, they both seem to require what Mark was implying: think of other people and remember that they ARE people.

The problem is, people don't think about their words enough. Like the word "Jew." When used as a verb, then it carries with it a whole load of hurtful, bigoted meaning--and that, to me, is extremely incourteous. However, if I were to tell someone who used it that way that it wasn't a good word to use, I'd immediately be branded a "PC Police".

Asking that you treat other people with respect in word and deed is not, to me, anything worthy of a label, it's just the way human beings should act.

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I don't see an intersection between common courtesy and "Political Correctness". I guess it depends on what you consider PC to be (assuming everyone understands courtesy, common or otherwise, which I basically equate with politeness and consideration of others).

I think the term PC equates to the act of adopting terminology that presumes your own personal political orientation and then promoting the idea that the use or non use (depending on the term in question) of that terminology is a form of bigotry. It is messing with the language and culture in a dishonest way to make any disagreement with your personal politics difficult to express without stirring up a lot of smoke and dust. Read 1984.

This has escalated beyond language (where it originated) to attitude and behavior. The Fort Hood shooter was only able to get where he was through a series of situations made possible by the fear of retribution that pervasive PC has created. No one wanted to be the first "bigot" (a career-threatening tag to be stuck with) even though the several situations that should have been been acted on had nothing to do with actual bigotry. "Diversity" and "multiculturalism" were the trump cards that blocked any proper response. PC kills. Not in theory but in observed fact.

The above is probably not a PC definition of PC.

Some good points there Bob. Maybe common courtesy doesn't equal political correctness after all. My example of Lillian Carter was more what I was talking about. I could give some other examples but they wouldn't be politically correct.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Some good points there Bob. Maybe common courtesy doesn't equal political correctness after all. My example of Lillian Carter was more what I was talking about. I could give some other examples but they wouldn't be politically correct.

I think Lillian Carter demonstrated that she was skilled enough to deal with Political Correctness. It is, after all, rooted in language so rhetorical skills can be a good countermeasure!

And another way of looking at things could be that those in a position to define what is politically correct do so in a way to make reasoned criticism or even constructive discussion *seem* to be a lack of common courtesy, or worse.

huh i find common courtesy to be a waste of time if im opposing something

politcal correct on the other hand is killing a lot of ppl and saying you didnt intend too

personal attacks is courtesy and i guess general would be politics
anyway there should be death penalty for not getting reelected