About the Author

After 25 years of writing for others I am now writing for myself and for the sheer fun of it. As for my "PC Fugitive" name that is in reference to my complete abhorrence to anything labeled "politically correct". I also have a unique perspective on the current financial problems. I spent 10 years in banking from 1980-1990 which was during the height of bank deregulations. I then spent seven years ending in 2005 as a consultant to banks and credit unions advising them on how to become more profitable.

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The Ultimate Reality Show

July 13th, 2008 • PC Fugitive

Do you prefer political correctness over survival?A decade or so ago it appeared as if everybody loudly proclaimed that they were “victims” based on their gender, religion, race, heritage etc. etc. It became so ludicrous that even white men, the group that everyone felt were the ones in control, soon believed that they were victims because they were now being excluded from opportunities going to minorities. We were told that political correctness was the solution to all of our problems. We had to make sure that everyone went through sensitive training and in order to be diverse we had to actively strive to include “victims” from each group.

Political correctness quickly filtered down to our schools. In order to be fair to all children, schools tried to eliminate any situation where a child might be perceived as a loser. To this end most of the games we grew up with were deemed inappropriate and it seemed as if every parent was given a “My child is on the honors list” sticker. And in both schools and work if you didn’t like someone then you were assumed to be prejudiced of whatever group the person was in. So if you disliked a person it was considered to be your fault and you needed to change because you had to like everyone.

Then along came a new show - Survivor. Shortly thereafter there were a slew of similar shows: American Idol, Big Brother, Dancing with the Stars, Project Runway, Hells Kitchen etc. etc. What these shows all had in common was the new idea of actually saying somebody was a loser. Instead of being inclusive, as we were told we had to be, these reality shows were actually kicking someone off the show and not only was someone ousted but they were often told why they were losers. We loved it when Simon would tell someone what we all wish we could say sometimes - that the person did not have any talent or that they were strange or creepy or weird.

How refreshing! After being beaten over the head with the notion that you must accept everyone and how it seemed as if everyone were victims and needed special treatment, here were shows that had people saying to someone “we don’t like you” or “you’re terrible no matter what your mother said”. Even those with disabilities were treated the same as everyone else and were given no special treatment. Regular folks, victims, minorities, disabled, and famous people were all treated equally and eventually were each called losers and kicked off the show.

Wow. How politically incorrect is that? But we loved it as evidenced by the continuously high ratings these shows had.

Now we have the election, the biggest reality show there is. What makes this interesting is that it is also a clash of sensitivity against the Survivor type meanness. After watching both blacks and whites being called losers on reality shows will people be mean to both candidates? Or will all that sensitivity training and diversity create a fear of being called racist even if we simply are disagreeing with Obama’s positions? I guess it boils down to which is more important: To be a survivor; someone equally mean (or nice) to everyone and to identify who you like or don’t like, regardless of race, gender, religion etc. or to be politically correct and sensitive to people who are victims and to give them preferential treatment.

So ask yourself this: Are you politically correct or are you a survivor?

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There Are 3 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Larry on 13 July 2008:

    PC Fugitive, I couldn’t agree with you more about our society going overboard on “political correctness”. You now are required to refer someone as a techician instead of a mechanic, a flight attendant instead of stewardess, a meter maid is a parking enforcement officer, etc. etc. Where does it end?

    The Don Imus controversy, a classic example. A man paid to be a shock jock and when he excells at it, he’s excoriated. Last I heard he’s doing exceedingly well, financially anyway, from all the controversy and notoriety he received. A few chastised him and to be policically correct everyone esle acquiesced. Sad.

    How about the “men at work” travesty. Pink Magazines’s editor, Cynthia Good, took it upon herself to make various signs, depicting men working in construction zones, sexist. What hyperbole. I wonder what that endeavor’s cost was to the tax payer?

    And then there’s the lastest absurdity. When I first read about it I thought it had to be some sort of outlandish waggery. Not so.

    A comment from Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, of Dallas County’s central collection system, was taken way out of context and fueled a “politically correct” controversy led by Judge Thomas Jones. Mayfield said, “it sounds like central collections has become a black hole.” Judge Thomas took offense to the comment and adamantly requested an apology. Was I missing something here? Maybe the good judge should get his mind out of the gutter.

    There is one caveat to this “PC” debate however. One could go too far the other way. Being insensitive, callous or down right cruel with superfluous comments towards others could degrade a society. Two rules for happy living, be willing to experience anything and give to others what they can experience easily.

  2. Comment by soundbite on 13 July 2008:

    Larry, as a fan of Garrison Keillor, PC will have gone too far when he has to change the name of one of my favorite characters, guy noir, to “person of color vision deficiency.”

  3. Pingback by politically correct on 24 July 2008:

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