Most people seem to identify me as being Politically Correct. This is probably based on the fact that I think certain language/words contribute to forms of oppression and feelings of inclusion and/or exclusion for some people. And because I don't find racist, sexist or homophobic "jokes" funny, usually finding them insulting and perpetuating of stereotypes, I am sure to speak my mind about it." Sometimes I hear people say something that isn't considered politically correct and then take it back by saying "Oh, I CAN’T say that, I guess that's not very politically correct." They are obviously missing the point. It would make more sense to say: "I don't WANT to say that." Using terms like "politically correct" just makes people feel like they have to fit into a set of rules that they have to abide by. It's like, "this is what you can say and this is what you can't say" according to some pre-set standard created by the politically correct officials. People need to understand WHY saying “faggot” or "that's so gay" in a derogatory way is fucked up (which is that it perpetuates closet homosexuality) but they don't need to memorize it as one of the words they can't use. Political correctness just makes people feel like they are being censored and they can't speak as they wish. I do not consider myself politically correct and I don't like it when people refer to me that way. It makes me feel like they see me as someone who doesn't really have any beliefs and is simply someone who follows a list of rules and is trying to make them follow the same list of rules instead of assuming that they have a mind of their own enough to understand concepts and ideas. I simply believe in treating people with respect and expect to get treated with respect in return. People aren't always going to agree on what is offensive and what is respect and that is why somewhere along the lines someone came up with the idea of being "Politically Correct" which is a way of forcing everyone to agree to speak and act the way that one person thinks is right which causes people to resent the whole "movement”. Then people start wanting to be as offensive as possible just to prove a point that they can't be censored. I'd rather explain to someone why I believe they should not make sexist "jokes" instead of telling them they can't say that because it's not politically correct. People need to discover things on their own and at their own pace and time. Political correctness is just another form of controlled behavior which causes people to revel against IT rather than rebelling against what it was I guess created for.

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