I ran across a little blurb in my newest favorite book (Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite
Confession
I hate being politically correct. I don’t like the concept too much and it really is a burr in my saddle that in conversations and in my writing I need to be acutely aware lest I offend someone.
See? I was just going to start a paragraph explaining my position so no one would think I’m some kind of bigot/redneck when I realized that writing that paragraph would be done so strictly for PC purposes, so, sorry but I won’t apologize for my sentiments on the topic.
My interactions with people are civil. I’m a sensitive kind of guy and the last thing I would ever want is to make someone feel bad for something I’ve said or written. This doesn’t mean I’m a PC hound. It means that I know how to function in what appears to be our societal norm.
What the heck is normal?
Societal norms are interesting things, aren’t they? In a post I wrote last month about Harriett Tubman I gave a little salute to PC-dom as I told of my hand quivering as I wrote “Negro Spirituals” on the board for a high school class I was teaching. Another example happened this week in the same class. They are reading The Great Gatsby
I’m not too worried
There is a great line in the Grammar Snobs book: “Reasonable people… can tell when your heart is in the right place.” I love that line because it plops things right into perspective for me.
I do tailor my writing to not be offensive to anyone. Regardless of my feelings about political correctness, I am a realist and I’m loathe to express my second amendment rights by pulling out my gun and shooting my foot. (which could result in consequences for my first amendment rights) 
How about a little self reflection here, folks? How much do you alter your writing, your writing voice in order to achieve PC perfection? Or do you even notice?
Political correctness, huh.
Well George, first of all we have a totally new “normal” out there these days, don’t we. What was once revered (say banks, for instance) are now the subject of derision and objects of protest. And they SHOULD BE!
The same holds true for certain people (members of the politically correct ‘police’) these days, who feel it is their personal mission in life to trash others (several talk show commentators come to mind, whose names I will not dignify by mentioning them).
You know I write short fiction, George. And why is that, and why now?
I am taking up the mantle in behalf of the victims of this “new” normal, as a social commentator, to fictionally point up the injustices, inequities, and suffering that those in power have subtly used to marginalize, dominate, or manipulate for their own selfish purposes.
Writer Charles Dickens was another social commentator. Was he politically correct? Did he even care about being so? No, and no again! And just look at the laser-sharp focus he aimed at his own society through carefully crafted prose!
A serious writer or blogger often has a choice to make, whether they realize it or not. They can “preach to the choir” and never be part of the solution, OR they can color OUTSIDE the lines, BREAK some so-called rules, and start TAKING ON the sacred cows that no longer deserve to be considered sacred.
Just think about writer George Orwell being alive today … and being a blogger.
Hmmm.
Wayne C. Long
Writer/Editor/Internet Publisher
http://www.LongShortStories.com
The only time I’ll temper my writing is if I feel that it can emotionally hurt the people whom it is intended to help. In that case, I’ll search for ‘softer’ yet effective words to get my point across.
I could have the most magnificent wisdom in the world, but if my method of delivery offends my targeted audience, my wisdom will be useless.
Data points, Barbara
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I don’t want to offend anyone either, George; however, there may be a time when we’re reading something that we might need to be offended so we can actually check ourselves and improves. Don’t ya think?
That said, I’d never offend anyone intentionally!!!
Michele
Michele´s last blog post..Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen: Book Review and CONTEST GIVEAWAY!!
Wayne,
I love your comment. This subject is obviously one that carries a lot of passion for you.
I love that you’re willing to color outside the lines. I think it’s brave and real.
It’s passion about a subject that makes us a real writer.
George
Barbara,
“I could have the most magnificent wisdom in the world, but if my method of delivery offends my targeted audience, my wisdom will be useless.”
So very profound. It does make a valid point about being effective as a writer. I would hope that any given writer is striving to be effective.
George
Michele,
I think that a reality check now and then can be jut what the ol’ doctor ordered. If you’re on the writing end of that, the duck row needs to be lined up pretty good.
It’s hard for me to imagine you ever offending anyone on purpose – I don’t think it’s in your nature.
George
Yeah, I don’t purposely go around trying to bash people and hurt their feelings. (*giggles*) I don’t feel like that’s the right way to get the message across. There might be a time, though, when I write something that really hits home for someone–I just hope I always manage to write with love and heart so the reader actually takes positive action instead of walking away angry and hurt.
Michele´s last blog post..Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen: Book Review and CONTEST GIVEAWAY!!
Moving from a very multicultural city to a country with a culture where immigration is still relatively unknown, I’ve learned that “normal” means very different things.
Stuff that makes my jaw drop to the floor comes out of the mouths of some of the most left leaning people I know. And they think my sense of normal is so extreme and restrictive that no one could actually live that way.
It’s all in the perspective. In my own writing, I write from my sense of ethics and integrity. If someone were to point something out, I’d look at it and listen to their point then make my own decision.
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Michele,
That is a worthwhile goal. Striving for the positive always brings back the positive, even if it takes a while to come back.
George
Alex,
Ethics, integrity, perspective.
Cornerstones these are. Ethical writing with integrity will always been seen for what it is by rational people.
Great comment.
George
George, I just gotta ask, after seeing that totally politically-incorrect, self-indulgent graphic in this post:
How’s your caber-throwing skill?
Aye, lad.
Not seen a caber yet that could out toss me…
Cheers!
George
My answer is a firm “it depends”. Not because of a fear of offending but more because there is a time and a place for everything and sometimes the feelings and sensitivities of my readers take priority.
On the other hand, as a writer, when the situation calls for it, I will be honest, real and raw and take whatever fallout comes from that. You have to have guts to be a writer.
I also think it’s important both as writers and as people, to give people a fair listen when they complain about something you’ve written. Even if you ultimately don’t agree with them, there is something powerful about truly listening to another person’s point of view. As writers, I think it’s our job to be able to do that and it will serve to enrich our writing and strengthen our voice.
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I have a very narrow example that I think applies to the overall conversation about how PC can affect our writing style and voice.
For me, my time in Grad School forever changed the way I write. For example, if you used a gender-specific pronoun when it wasn’t necessary, you were likely to get dinged. Agree with it or not, it’s just the way it was.
The thing is that, although my professors were mostly reasonable people, they didn’t care if my heart was in the right place; inappropriate use of a gender-specific pronoun just wasn’t accepted.
So it just became habit for me to avoid gender-specific pronouns whenever possible.
I get compliments, at times, from clients who notice how careful I am in this area. I’ve never had a client complain about it, either, so it’s been a good business practice for me.
Now, should it be this way? In the grand scheme of things, is all of this OK? Heck if I know. It sure as heckfire bothered me when it all started, but now I suppose I just think there are more important things to worry about – in both directions. I don’t worry about being extra PC, but I do take basic precautions.
Great post, George. Very thought-inspiring!
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Tracy,
You know best how I feel about being centered. A certain degree of sensitivity tempered with a reasonable standing of your ground is the best strategy I think.
George
Bob,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Yes! You managed to say what I was trying to say with that post. I struggled because I just could not think of the perfect example. And just like that – ka-POW! you hit it out of the park.
Perfect.
Cheers, and by the way it’s good to see you around again.
George
Hi george,
I am new here and was going through all these wonderful comments/replies.
As a part of my aasignment in school, I am supposed to give my point of view on “PC in writing”. I started of by saying that-”Political correctness depends on the purpose of the message, whether it is to inspire, educate, simply state one’s opinion or share a random thought”. Then i got stuck..ha ha. Now i need to submit instances of PC and political incorrectness. Can you help me in the same?
Cheers!
Hey Jerry,
Sounds like an interesting assignment. First, I think you’re right in that the pc meter does deflect differently for different types of writing.
PC Examples: Using the feminine (she, her, hers) instead of the masculine. Crafting the words you want to say with what you think would be the least offensive to any number of group or people.
PI Examples: Slang/slurs known to be offensive to folks, Charging straightforward in your writing with virtually no concern for the readership.
Jerry, those are some generic examples, I’ll bet the readership here may be able to come up with more.
George