It is the dishonesty of political correctness that I find so annoying. - Blimp
I am not looking to argue here when I ask, in what regards? What do you find dishonest about political correctness and how would you define it as opposed to valid respect and sensitivity?
I don't think any of us want to ever return to the bad old days of using the sort of language Alf Garnett used in Till Death Us Do Part - Blimp
Of course.
but personally I feel that the media luvvies and the PC do-gooders have a lot to answer for. - Blimp
They do indeed, as do the extreme anti-PC brigade. Both sides are counterproductive.
Look at the way the Tottenham fans were treated over their use of the word "Yid". Who does it really offend? A large number of Spurs fans are Jewish anyway so let them call themselves what they want. - Blimp
I am not a football fan, being a dry academic with little hobbies, so I am not familiar with this controversy. If some people of an Eastern European Jewish background wish to all themselves "Yids" then I think that is their own business to do so. When it starts to be used by those not of an Jewish Eastern European background start using the term, especially due to certain uses of it in the 1930s, then I can see why it may become problematic.
As for sexism I agree that things are better now in this country at least but again its gone too far and a man hardly dares pay a woman a compliment without the risk of being called a male chauvinist. - Blimp
I guess it depends on the compliment. AKA "Oh you are looking smart/nice/good in your dress." as opposed to "Coooor love you look fit. I wouldn't mind givin' you one." or something like that.
And I suppose on the time and place. For instance, someone at a seminar constantly stopping to "compliment" a female doctor on her looks rather than what she is there to say (and I have witnessed this on a few occasions); this can get very annoying.
If anyone remembers that case of the human rights lawyer and the unfortunate chap that was "outed" for calling her gorgeous they will know what I mean. - Blimp
I am not familiar with this case. My opinion will depend on the circumstances.
After listening to all the endless media drivel about the Royal birthday over the last few days you can't possibly claim we are much nearer to being a classless society. - Blimp
Perhaps only chronologically. I am actually part of a dying breed, an old school socialist (so much I am almost a true conservative what with primitive communism and so-called traditional values (i.e. sharing) et cetera) so I share your annoyance if not your political beliefs.
Of course its good to see the back of some of the forelock touching and grovelling to ones betters but it still goes on just listen to Jenny Bond or one of the other royal flatterers simpering about the latest royal baby. If that doesn't make you ill nothing will. - Blimp
It does and I find it embarrassing for the country. As a northerner however, I know only one monarchist so at least it doesn't intrude upon my every day life.
I think IS must be considered as big a threat to us as the Nazis once were. - Blimp
I am not completely in disagreement here as one far right-wing extremist group is much like another. Added to the fact if I was in IS territory I'd probably have been beheaded by now after watching the desecration of much of our global heritage in the name of religion and ultra-conservatism.
Not that I can really talk about the forties although I do remember the fifties well and even without donning my rose-tinted spectacles I can tell you they were better days than now. - Blimp
I'd say some things were better; more community up here in the North (before the certain events and governments in the 1980s destroyed much of our culture), more jobs (at least here again), better fashion and music, more political consciousness et cetera, but as a whole I wouldn't say it was better for the reasons that PhilK has given.
I'd say part of it is down to region and part class but if you were (and I am not saying you were necessarily) southern and middle-class it was probably great, but if like most of my friends and family you were northern and working-class it wasn't particularly great aside from slightly more work and a better community spirit as long as you "fitted in".
Mind you cruelty is always with us. You can't escape that whatever you think about political correctness. - Blimp
Yes.
I remember them too. Stodgy, overcooked food (outside London, foreign restaurants were virtually unknown); smoke-choked cinemas, public transport, pubs, etc; two dull TV channels (The Black and White Minstrel Show, anybody?); prudish official censorship of books, plays, movies; unheated houses (getting up in the mornings shivering in front of a two-bar electric fire); unheated cars, just great for winter journeys; National Service (I missed it by two years, lucky bastard that I was); abortions illegal; homosexuality illegal; unmarried mothers stigmatised; signs in lodging-house windows "No Irish, No Dogs, No Blacks".... The Good Old Days, you reckon? -Philk
A good post. Actually this is like my house now...
These points actually did effect members of my family.
You have forgotten to mention hanging! We no longer do it which is a good thing. And surprisingly no mention of corporal punishment in your entertaining post. No longer used in schools which is another plus. Yes all that you say is true but you are only mentioning the bad things about the fifties. - Blimp
I'll let PhilK speak for himself, however, I don't read his post as saying the 50s were all bad merely that they did have a lot of problems we don't have now. And for all the talk of PC it is a price to pay for a more tolerant society rather than one that did openly embrace a lot of racism, sexism, classism and homophobia.
I personally won't claim that is gone but I do think we have improved somewhat in part due to soem of the things claimed to be PC (ironically a term originally used by Marxist feminists).
Two dull TV channels indeed but how many crap ones now on freeview? - Blimp
I can't disagree here. I don't watch television much for this reason.
And what happened to all those railway stations we once had? - Blimp
They got re-privatised and thus ruined in the name of profit.
Cars are now everywhere! Even in the country we don't wake up to the sound of birdsong but to the sound of the builders drilling at twenty to eight in the morning. Noise is everywhere! Boy racers driving their uninsured cars with rap music blaring out! - Blimp
True.
Suicide bombers carrying out a holy war on the West. - Blimp
As opposed to a "political" wars carried out on the East (the wars in Aden and the Yemen, the Israeli-Arab wars, the colonial and post-colonial conflicts in Africa and the Indian subcontinent, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Suez and Malay crises et cetera). Or the threat of nuclear annihilation! And that isn't even mentioning (again) that big thing they had in the 1940s.
We have the blessed joys of multiculturism - Blimp
Speak for yourself but I have no problem with the "blessed joys" of multiculturalism; I tend to take people as they are and I enjoy curry and Italian food too much! That and some of my ancestors weren't "British" (a multicultural identity I might add).
and staying in the EU rammed down our throats by the BBC and all the other media hypocrites
Although I support leaving the EU (for the reasons it is anti-democratic in many places and is a hang-up from the most "red scare" era of the Cold War) both sides are guilty of massive hypocrisy that tends to boiled down to wanting to stay in the EU out of habit or due to the ease of travel or leaving mostly because staying means keeping the, mostly British created, concept of "human rights" (which is bad for some reason) or having to deal with and occasionally be told what to* do by, foreigners and (aka other Western Europeans). I despair at both sides of the debate and will rejoice when it is over!
*And, as is conveniently forgotten, tell them what to do!
and we live in a world where mass hysteria breaks out every time a "celebrity" as much as stubs his or her toe! No funnily enough I would happily swap the late fifties and early sixties for 2016! Just a personal opinion. No offence meant and I am very glad that racism and homophobia is now completely unacceptable! - Blimp
I am glad we can all agree on the last part.
Personally I'd pick a far future when we have ironed out our problems, live in a classless society, and if I controlled it wear fashion from the 1930s and the most popular genres of music are Jazz, Folk and Blues and the popular and formal music of the late 12th Century and early 13th century.... but that is just me! |