Interesting People mailing list archives
a bit more on query on Flames of Nazi Oblivion
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 14:46:59 -0400
------ Forwarded Message From: Peter Boothe <peter () cs uoregon edu> Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 11:42:46 -0700 (PDT) To: Einar Stefferud <Stef () thor nma com> Cc: dave () farber net Subject: Re: FW: [IP] query on Flames of Nazi Oblivion On Sun, 11 May 2003, Einar Stefferud wrote:
Well, just answer one aspect of the question -- Are [political correctness and Nazi book burning] the same or different?
Different.
Then if different, please explain how;
Nobody is getting sent to death camps. Nobody is advocating the extermination of another race. The government is not expunging those who are not politically correct (see recent issues with Sen. Lott and Sen. I-Hate-Gay-Sex whose name I forget, both of whom are still senators). The government is not forcing everyone to be politically correct. Except for a few much-lambasted cases, political correctness is being driven by market forces. It's arising naturally out of people's desire to not offend others. Nobody is required to be PC, it's just considered gauche not to be in some circles. You have the right to shout racial slurs at the top of your lungs, but I have the right to then think you are an asshole and ignore everything you say and not buy your products. Not only that, but I also have the right to tell all my friends to do the same. If you were a company, and not desirous of such negative popularity, then you would probably come around. You are welcome to start your own "we're not PC!" company (and it seems that many have), but I don't have to patronize it. The best discussion of this issue I have found was an essay entitled "Decrying political correctness without an understanding of its causes and intended consequences is little more than racism muttered under one's breath" at http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=535907 Which, despite its unwieldy title, is pretty well-written and explains very well the origins of political correctness, particularly with regards to race. Subsequent essays (found from any of the many links on that page) expound on that issue yay or nay, but that particular one summarizes my feelings pretty well. -Peter
PS: Who made it a "no go"? The original msg or my question?
Framing the question in terms of Nazis made it a no-go. It's a horrible strawman that is incredibly divisive and almost completely forgoes the possibility of a rational conversation. It's a lot like asking "have you stopped beating your wife yet?". There's not a whole lot of meaningful dialogue that's going to go on after an opener like that. ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- a bit more on query on Flames of Nazi Oblivion Dave Farber (May 12)