It seems to me that PC has evolved to mean "whatever will not offend." PC-speak has come from political and/or legal concerns--not wanting to lose a vote by offending anyone and/or not wanting to be sued for libel. The expansion into academia is a shame because it leaves the conversation not only boring but lacking truth (e.g., lying by omission) in many cases. -- Melinda C. P. Skinner Richmond, VA -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Kevin Joel Berland <[log in to unmask]> > And yet labeling certain positions PC is itself stifling. In most cases I've > seen, the person who wields the label uses it to dismiss an idea or a statement > of an idea. Most ideas thus dismissed are by no means "accepted by all and > uncontroversial." Calling something PC is to refuse to engage with the idea > itself. As for defining PC as simply raising hackles, I think it's partly > true, but once again it reduces the matter to expression and not issues: what > of the values and principles underlying the response of hackle-raising? > > > On Thu, 31 May 2007 21:04:55 -0400 Discussion of research and writing about > Virginia history > <[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > > > While like most people I have bias, it was in this context (not > > raising hackles) that I find PC to be stiffling. It is impossible to > > have a good debate of a topic if only that which is accepted by all > > and uncontroversial is voiced. This is also a good recipe for > > groupthink. > > > > James Brothers, RPA > > [log in to unmask] > > > > > > > > On May 31, 2007, at 13:05, qvarizona wrote: > > > > > Regarding the term PC, Jon Kukla wrote, > > > > > > "In that context, the term was NOT associated with any particular > > > point of view or ideology, but rather with what was least likely to > > > raise anyone's hackles." > > > > > > Thinking about this in several contexts, I think that's > > > one of the best definitions of the term PC I've come across. > > > > > > --Joanne > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not > > > web links. > > > > > >