As a Society Are We Too Sensitive?
Due to political correctness, Dick Van Dyke is now known as Penis Truck Lesbian.
We live in a culture of political correctness. It is this very movement that has rightly fought for those that are unfairly marginalized. Political correctness came from the sexism, racism and overall inequality of the 1970s. But for every action, there is a consequence. Now many people will not discuss certain topics for fear of ‘committing’ political incorrectness.
As an adult, I have been on the receiving end of domestic violence, racism, sexism and bullying. That’s not bad for a middle-aged white male, living in post-modern Britain.
Yet I am not easily offended. I have a sense of humour. And most importantly, I am able to differentiate between someone poking harmless fun at me and the use of targeted insults, bullying, discrimination and the like.
Could it be that we are being too heavy-handed with the rules of engagement concerning political correctness? What if the comedy of certain jokes is abstracted from the discomfort of us not being sure of what to say in certain social circumstances. Such as in the company of someone who is disabled. Are not some of these jokes poking fun at the discomfort and ignorance of such situations? And not because the subject is being…
