From: Pele@yabbs
To: all@yabbs
Subject: re: PC
Date: Thu Aug 18 00:23:38 1994
This may be behind but.  I can't see anything wrong with making an effort 
to be sensitive to the people around you.  I don't think that we should 
make up new words to describe people if the present words were never 
considered derogatory.

By that, I mean.  The word "dwarf" has long been used as a medical term to 
describe those members of our society who are suffering from dwarfism.  I 
would therefore call a dwarf a dwarf and not a person who is "vertically 
challenged."  I think to call someone who is blind "visually impared" is 
rediculous.  If this is what PC is supposed to be, then i'm against it.

However, there is some good to come from it.  I happen to like the fact 
that people are careful not to use the word "nigger" around me.  Why?  
Because it has long been a derogatory term to describe black people.  Now 
if I was brought up hearing the word "nigger" in a non-negative way all 
my life, I wouldn't care.  My friends, who happen to be both black and why 
use the word in conversation (listen to rap).  It's not a negative term so 
it doesn't bother me.


I guess what I'm tring to say is that PC should not be about terminoloby 
but about it's intent.  I mean if you're sensitive to people around you 
then I"m OK with you.  I mean, if you know a person has a problem with 
being called blind.  Don't call them blind.  Heck, don't even mention it 
at all.