PC or not PC, that is the question.

I love reality TV for it’s ability to make you question your perception of the world or exercise your ability to discuss. Case in point, Hell’s Kitchen (of course… *drools* Marco… ahem) and the recent issues with Jim Davidson and his “old fashioned nature” – an inability to understand that nowadays saying “I think gays are equal to the rest of us” is seen as offensive in that it suggests the speaker thinks a) sexuality is a suitable way to separate society into groups and b) that comments like that need saying. A bit like me saying “I totally think black people are as clever as white people!” – comments like that are offensive/irritating in that the speaker seems to think that saying and even thinking things like that is “good”, is a sign that they are tolerant and modern etc – whereas in fact it underlines an unconscious belief of the speaker that race/sex/sexuality/religion/etc could affect equality in anyway, that it needs confirming that they don’t believe it does.

Conversely, is the world just becoming too hung up on PC? If a female driver does something stupid in front of me I curse “pah! bloody women drivers… *mutter mutter*”. That’s not PC – I (especially as a woman driver, though admittedly probably the most aggressive female driver I know) should not view stupid driving from a woman as a product of them being a female. But I often do. If a bloke drives stupidly I either curse at him also (but make no mention of his sex) or if I can I out-accelerate him and make him look silly.

Takes me back to listening to someone telling me and some other people a English, Irish, Scottish joke some years ago – mid-joke some bloke piped up “I’m half Scottish and I take offence at these jokes”. I immediately replied “Yeah? I’m half English, 1\8 Scottish and 1\8 Irish, and I love ’em.” If there is no intent to disrespect or insult behind the joke then what’s to be offended about? Yes, you do have to be careful in that innocent use of words can encourage offensive use of words, but you can’t wrap yourself up in cotton wool to protect yourself from these non-threats. When my boss can’t understand why I say or do something, he looks at me incredulously and says “Anyone can tell you’re from Essex…” This isn’t a slur against Essex or me, it’s called “teasing”. And anyone who tries to take the “you’re from Essex, ‘Essex Girl’, hur hur” further hits a brick wall as I don’t think being a girl from Essex is a bad thing, so taking the mickey doesn’t really cause me any anguish. And I’m not a prostitute, so calling me an Essex Girl is again, hardly an offence (for it is therefore not accurate).
I’m tired and waffling – it’s almost 1am and I’m on call (4th last on call!) so I’ve got mental diarrhoea. Splurge…