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Political Correctness Comedy How to most effectively create a “safe space” on campus Cartoon by Nate Beeler We have recently come across a video that is simply too funny not be shared. It also happens to dovetail nicely with our friend Claudio’s recent essay on political correctness and cultural Marxism. Since this is generally a rather depressing topic, we have concluded that having a good laugh at it might not be the worst idea. It is especially funny (or terrifying, depending on one’s perspective – we prefer funny) to what extent political correctness has invaded colleges. Frankly, we actually had no idea just how far this malady has advanced by now. A recent article in the conservative journal National Review listed the “13 most ridiculously PC moments on college campuses in 2015” – readers can check the details out over there, but below are a few examples from the list. They read like a dispatch from the stand-up comedy universe: Hating pumpkin-spice lattes was declared sexist. A university language guide stated that the word “American” was “problematic.” A university study declared that we have to accept people who “identify as real vampires.” The word “skinny” was deemed “violent.” A university declared the phrase “politically correct” to be politically incorrect.
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Political Correctness Comedy
How to most effectively create a “safe space” on campus Cartoon by Nate Beeler
We have recently come across a video that is simply too funny not be shared. It also happens to dovetail nicely with our friend Claudio’s recent essay on political correctness and cultural Marxism. Since this is generally a rather depressing topic, we have concluded that having a good laugh at it might not be the worst idea.
It is especially funny (or terrifying, depending on one’s perspective – we prefer funny) to what extent political correctness has invaded colleges. Frankly, we actually had no idea just how far this malady has advanced by now.
A recent article in the conservative journal National Review listed the “13 most ridiculously PC moments on college campuses in 2015” – readers can check the details out over there, but below are a few examples from the list. They read like a dispatch from the stand-up comedy universe:
Hating pumpkin-spice lattes was declared sexist.
A university language guide stated that the word “American” was “problematic.”
A university study declared that we have to accept people who “identify as real vampires.”
The word “skinny” was deemed “violent.”
A university declared the phrase “politically correct” to be politically incorrect.
A room full of white people was determined to represent a “micro-aggression”
A Harvard study declared that micro-aggressions can make people die sooner
Some students were ‘triggered’ by an anti-micro-aggressions exhibit.
A yoga class was canceled on the grounds that yoga is “cultural appropriation.”
Just in case readers are wondering what “micro-aggressions” are, according to Psychology Today, the term refers to “everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.”
A World Scrubbed of Offense
Surely no-one would want to micro-aggress on his fellow human beings lest they “become depressed, develop low self-esteem, eating disorders, body image issues or experience sexual dysfunction” or God forbid, begin to suffer from “invisibility syndrome”, all of which are symptoms that could impact victims according to Wikipedia.
In order to make sure readers are properly prepared to avoid wreaking such havoc, here is an in parts slightly Orwellian-sounding set of guidelines published by UCLA, entitled “Tool: Recognizing Micro-aggressions and the Messages they Send”. Mind, there is no need to be unnecessarily rude to people, we agree with that as a general point (it can be dangerous too: if you’re rude to Hannibal Lecter, he’ll eat your liver). However, these guidelines may be taking things a tad too far.
Apparently, even asking people where they’re from is actually a no-no these days. If one really wants to find out, one will presumably have to knock the person unconscious (“macro-aggression”) and grab their ID. One is also no longer allowed to insist that “the best qualified person be given the job”. We were hitherto unaware of that, but we have a feeling it might actually explain a lot.
Also, if one still thinks that “America is the land of opportunity”, or that hard work is the basis of success, one should better keep such thoughts to oneself. It is no longer permitted to say any of this out loud (let us not forget the danger that someone might contract invisibility syndrome upon hearing such travesties!).
Anyway, let us move on to the hilarious video mentioned above. It shows an interviewer asking students a number of questions on “identity” which veer ever further into the realm of the absurd. Almost regardless of how ludicrous the putative scenarios he offers up for inspection become though, the students are making every effort to avoid offending the good man even hypothetically (we want to take this opportunity to apologize if we have micro-aggressed against women and/or assorted hybrids by identifying him as a “man”):
Whatever you do, don’t tell him that he’s wrong!
We want to point out that we know absolutely nothing about the makers of the video (some Washington-based family policy advocacy group), so this is not meant to be an endorsement of them. We are also not interested in addressing the bathroom law controversy that has apparently triggered this “identity debate” in greater detail – except for pointing out that this particular situation is less clear-cut than many people seem to think.
For instance, women in North Carolina could in future be astonished to find this person entering their rest-rooms – by law; then again, in Seattle this can happen. We happen to believe that what is needed are not laws, but common sense (we have yet to consult the handbook to find out if the application of common sense is still considered politically correct – it may not be).
Important Message
Anyway, we do have a message for the young people in the video:
Yes, reality can often prove to be a tenacious and formidable enemy. But together, ensconced in our hate-free safe zone, we shall be able to over-comb it! Friendship, comrades!
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