Self-Censorship in Public Discourse: A Theory of 'Political Correctness' (1994) [pdf]

Re:Self-Censorship in Public Discourse: A Theory of 'Politic... by xvedejas on Thursday February 22, 2018 @07:02PM (#16442822)

The problem, at least for some, is giving up the discretion to decide what "being a jerk" is. Once you've let others decide the list of things that are jerkish, you've also given them the power to put their idea of political dissent on that list. You don't need political correctness to realize when you've been a jerk to someone.

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Re:Self-Censorship in Public Discourse: A Theory of 'Politic... by IntronExon on Thursday February 22, 2018 @07:16PM (#16442918)

You don't need political correctness to realize when you've been a jerk to someone.

Some people seem like they need it, or maybe even a carer to let them know. They’re not as bad as people who think that being abrasive and lacking social skills is some secret sauce on their “brilliance,” which you get too much in medicine, tech, and STEM in general.

It isn’t the secret sauce, it’s what some people are willing to tolerate during your productive years, sometimes.

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Re:Self-Censorship in Public Discourse: A Theory of 'Politic... by s73v3r_ on Thursday February 22, 2018 @07:56PM (#16443211)

I believe we can come up with at least some pretty standard definitions of "being a jerk". Telling a racist joke where the point is to dehumanize the targeted race? That's pretty clearly being a jerk. Purposefully misgendering a trans person? Again, very clearly being a jerk (this doesn't count the situation where you don't actually know what gender, and accidentally use the wrong one, but it would count if you then stuck to your mistake, and obstinately refused to correct it).

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Re:Self-Censorship in Public Discourse: A Theory of 'Politic... by Slansitartop on Thursday February 22, 2018 @11:02PM (#16444114)

> Purposefully misgendering a trans person? Again, very clearly being a jerk

Your statement is more an attempt to establish a new norm and less an articulation of a well-established one. It's not unlikely that you'll encounter someone for which it's unknown as such.

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Re:Self-Censorship in Public Discourse: A Theory of 'Politic... by mantas on Thursday February 22, 2018 @11:03PM (#16444123)

And there's a complicate split between just telling a race-base joke and "dehumanizing". As well as just going by what you perceive as other person's gender vs v doing that on purpose.

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