Has political correctness actually gone mad?

[NinjaFletch]

I'm boycotting Lush for apologising.

I've never shopped in Lush anyway so it will be pretty easy.

If anything this is great for them. A company that probably none of us had heard before getting some free publicity. Such a shame for them.

How have you never heard of them? I swear there is one in every town in the country and it smells like someone has blown up a perfumery if you have the misfortune of stepping within 100ft of one.

 

[Snowjoe]

I just got some moisturiser from lush which honestly is epic.

 

[Silva]

How have you never heard of them? I swear there is one in every town in the country and it smells like someone has blown up a perfumery if you have the misfortune of stepping within 100ft of one.

Not until today. Dunno, I just haven't.

But honestly, who gives a shit? All that happened is they posted an ad that offended their fat costumers. Boo fecking hoo. Why should we pretend they care about public health when it's pretty obvious that everything they post on that page is basically an attempt to sell whatever they have? If they apologise it's not because someone saw the error of their way, it's because they realised some fatty might not buy their stuff anymore. Both the original ad and the subsequent apology are just meaningless, bullshit marketing ploys.

 

[NinjaFletch]

Not until today.

But honestly, who gives a shit? All that happened is they posted an ad that offended their fat costumers. Boo fecking hoo. Why should we pretend they care about public health when it's pretty obvious that everything they post on that page is basically an attempt to sell whatever they have?

I don't care about Lush, but I do think it is worrying whenever you see people able to shut down some fairly basic scientifically proven facts because it hurts their feelings that they're shortening their lives through bad decisions they have made.

 

[Silva]

I don't care about Lush, but I do think it is worrying whenever you see people able to shut down some fairly basic scientifically proven facts because it hurts their feelings that they're shortening their lives through bad decisions they have made.

I don't think they were disagreeing with the basic premise of get fat, die young (maybe one or two were, idk, they seem dumb). They just don't want their lipstick company to tell them that.

But still, I'd be more inclined to care if it wasn't a corporate ad.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

I wish a company was able to come and out say "feck you, you shower of bastards stop being dickheads".

This fat acceptance thing is going way too far. I don't agree with actually shaming people but there's nothing wrong with pointing out it's unhealthy, which it is.

If two thirds of all adults are fatties then it might not be the best marketing strategy.

Just read that Beth Ditto has a clothing range in Selfridges for size 18-32 only.

 

[Drainy]

If two thirds of all adults are fatties then it might not be the best marketing strategy.

True, but it's also better for the 2/3s to know the risk they are taking with their health. Comforting lies are for children, as an adult you should try to be as informed as possible and take responsibility for your decisions.

 

[Jippy]

I hate Lush shops. They always reek when you walk past them. And now it turns out they're spineless too.

 

[RedTiger]

I worked for Lush 20 years ago during summer hols. They abhor fat shaming but are OK with zero hour contracts.

 

[PedroMendez]

I kind of agree with the whole 'PC gone mad' ridiculousness where you can't say anything for fear of offending people.

But at the same time I do get the irony of the fact that those who most routinely express that view seem themselves to be one of the most perpetually offended group of society. I've experienced more people offended at apparent political correctness than I have come across people offended by the lack of it. People also seem to like political correctness if they benefit from it.

Rarely have I ever met someone who proudly boasts to "call a spade a spade" who seemed like they'd react kindly if someone greeted them by saying "Oi, cnut with the big nose...". But they're fine for others to be objected to such bluntness. 'PC gone mad' has really come to mean 'I'm offended by so many people being offended', without really acknowledging the ridiculousness of that position.

I think some of the arguments made are valid but I'm not sure the whole 'angry white man, offended by everything' lobby that's really taken the mantle on this, helps.

You are misunderstanding the issue. When someone says something insulting, it is to some extend normal to be insulted. Nobody expects that obese persons react indifferent when you call them fat-fecks. The PC brigade is going wrong when they are outraged about stuff that is clearly not intended to offend anyone. It makes no sense to get offended by a fairly neutral add, that states scientific facts. Yet even if you get offended, it makes no sense to blame the messenger. Your own sensibility is at fault. Attributing nefarious intentions/attitudes to others because you are butthurt is childish.

 

[Synco]

True, but it's also better for the 2/3s to know the risk they are taking with their health. Comforting lies are for children, as an adult you should try to be as informed as possible and take responsibility for your decisions.

Every overweight person I know knows that it's unhealthy, will probably shorten his or her life, and is generally looked down upon. As good as every one of them unsuccessfully tried or still tries to lose weight, which leaves some sort of desperation and low self esteem.

There's certainly no lack of information about what society thinks is acceptable in terms of health and body shape, quite the opposite. The message is hammered home every day in a myriad of ways. Those who actively try to ignore it are as aware of it as everyone else.

But at the same time I do get the irony of the fact that those who most routinely express that view seem themselves to be one of the most perpetually offended group of society. I've experienced more people offended at apparent political correctness than I have come across people offended by the lack of it.

Oh yes.

 

[Bobcat]

I kind of agree with the whole 'PC gone mad' ridiculousness where you can't say anything for fear of offending people.

But at the same time I do get the irony of the fact that those who most routinely express that view seem themselves to be one of the most perpetually offended group of society. I've experienced more people offended at apparent political correctness than I have come across people offended by the lack of it. People also seem to like political correctness if they benefit from it.

Rarely have I ever met someone who proudly boasts to "call a spade a spade" who seemed like they'd react kindly if someone greeted them by saying "Oi, cnut with the big nose...". But they're fine for others to be objected to such bluntness. 'PC gone mad' has really come to mean 'I'm offended by so many people being offended', without really acknowledging the ridiculousness of that position.

I think some of the arguments made are valid but I'm not sure the whole 'angry white man, offended by everything' lobby that's really taken the mantle on this, helps.

It's not really about being offended. It's about certain groups parroting views that are nuts and sometimes even bigoted or dangerous themselves. Take the "fat acceptance movement" for example. Now people being bullied for being fat in school obviously happens, and it's not right and surely a traumatic experience for them, and i am sure loads of people have been discriminated against for being fat/obese in some form or another.

But if you can't fit into an passenger seat on public transport that's not society oppressing you, that's a sign you need to lose weight. Same with the people claiming oppression because people don't find them attractive. Not finding an obese person attractive is not "fatphobia", that's just how attraction works. Also, when the "fat movement" start saying that all conventional science about obesity and health is just hogwash, then they are crossing a dangerous line, especially considering the enormous problem a lot of nations are facing concerning obesity related disease.

Then you have things like the progressive stack, who shove people (taking no regard to their inner qualities) into neat little boxes and then "value" them based on some arbitrary and very generalizing categories, which in itself is incredibly bigoted.

 

[Drainy]

Every overweight person I know knows that it's unhealthy, will probably shorten his or her life, and is generally looked down upon.

And why should anyone be criticised for stating an accepted fact then?

I say that as someone who is overweight and trying to shift it.

 

[Synco]

And why should anyone be criticised for stating an accepted fact then?

I say that as someone who is overweight and trying to shift it.

My main point was just that 'comforting lies for children', as you put it, is not really what happens. Health and fitness are omnipresent in our culture. Everyone is aware of what being overweight is (rightly or wrongly) considered to be until deeply into the subconscious. So repeating what everyone knows in a sloganistic manner is not really a case of informing, and more a case of pressurizing people into doing something. A milder form of the anti-smoking pics with necrotic limbs.

One may say that's good, necessary, appropriate or whatever (I don't, which was probably already discernable), but that's a different discussion altogether.

Doesn't mean I like the now common outrage/shitstorm/cringeworthy apology automatism in any way - and this particular apology is really, really cringeworthy. I just don't like the original ads either, and they represent a much larger and much more relevant part of society.

 

[Maagge]

Spoiler

They should really just come out and post links to the studies they're getting the numbers from.

 

[Silva]

The worst thing about the people who replied to that ad is that they liked Lush's facebook page in the first place.

 

[Mihajlovic]

Toronto gallery cancels show after concerns artist 'bastardizes' Indigenous art.

A painter accused of "cultural genocide", and other strange things happening in Canada at the moment.

http://www.cbc.ca/1.4091529

 

[caid]

Have to say the whole cultural appropriation thing makes zero sense to me.

Is it so terrible to be inspired by another culture?
I guess i can vaguely see how a haloween costume could be a bit offensive, just not enough to warrant anything more than an eye roll.
Guess im not in a position to understand it really

 

[Mihajlovic]

Have to say the whole cultural appropriation thing makes zero sense to me.

Is it so terrible to be inspired by another culture?
I guess i can vaguely see how a haloween costume could be a bit offensive, just not enough to warrant anything more than an eye roll.
Guess im not in a position to understand it really

 

[caid]

Vampire, Werewolf, Billionaire, Surgeon, Pirate

 

[Penna]

Beth Ditto being hailed as a positive role model because she was proud of her body was a watershed moment. You're morbidly obese and putting huge stress on your internal organs but yeah, own that shit.

I didn't know who this woman was, so I had a look at her Wiki page and some pics. I can completely understand anyone of any size being proud of their life achievements, but I don't know how anyone could be proud of their body when (presumably) they have neglected it so much. We only get one, after all.

 

[caid]

I didn't know who this woman was, so I had a look at her Wiki page and some pics. I can completely understand anyone of any size being proud of their life achievements, but I don't know how anyone could be proud of their body when (presumably) they have neglected it so much. We only get one, after all.

Tbf i imagine a lot of borderline anorexic women are pretty proud of their body
Not that i disagree with you ... just being argumentative i guess

 

[Penna]

Tbf i imagine a lot of borderline anorexic women are pretty proud of their body
Not that i disagree with you ... just being argumentative i guess

That's the same thing, really, taking it to extremes the other way. It's not healthy to starve yourself, either. There's too much emphasis on how our outsides look, but that's a genie that can't be put back in the bottle.

 

[Mrs Smoker]

While we're in Canadia.

A Canadian man’s Star Trek-inspired license plate has been revoked after his public insurance company received complaints that it was offensive to indigenous people. The two-year-old plate, which reads “ASIMIL8,” is a sly reference to the Borg, evil aliens in Star Trek who “assimilate” their prey and go by the motto “Resistance is Futile.”

Manitoba local Nick Troller was informed by an agent from Manitoba Public Insurance on Wednesday that they had received complaints from two people about the word “assimilate,” which they claimed is offensive to minorities. He was then served a letter informing him that “it has been brought to the attention of this office that the personalized plate ASIMIL8 is considered offensive,” and was ordered to surrender it immediately.

MPI has given Troller the option to replace the personalized plate with a new one free of charge or refund the $100 he paid for it.

Troller disagrees with the contention that the plate is offensive. “But that’s not the point,” he said. “We’ve become way too sensitive. You can’t say anything anymore to anybody.”

He told CTV News that prior to being notified of the complaints, he was only ever complimented for the interesting license plate by people who took photos of it.

The Borg “assimilating” a victim
The term “assimilate” can refer to the process in which members of a group are absorbed into the culture of another population. In the Star Trek franchise, the malevolent Borg forcibly assimilate sentient lifeforms into their machine “hivemind”.

Speaking to CTV News, a spokesperson for the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, Ry Moran, said that the word “assimilate” is indeed too offensive to be displayed on the plate, regardless of intent.

“Words like that, meant or not, have an actual impact on many people,” said Moran—as if one man’s Star Trek reference was capable of oppressing millions of Canadians.

In Manitoba, license plates are the property of the government and there is no appeal process for rejected or revoked slogans. MPI policy states that plates are prohibited from containing slogans that could be considered offensive. The Manitoba licensing bureau is treating complaints over the ASIMIL8 plate “very seriously” and will investigate why the plate was ever approved in the first place.

 

[caid]

That's the same thing, really, taking it to extremes the other way. It's not healthy to starve yourself, either. There's too much emphasis on how our outsides look, but that's a genie that can't be put back in the bottle.

I know but I think a lot of people would have little difficulty understanding that kind of pride compared with whateverybob ditto's pride in her body.
She seems to have made a decent career out of it and while that isn't going to mean much when she dies young from a heart attack, I still cant help but think ... fair play (?)

 

[Penna]

I know but I think a lot of people would have little difficulty understanding that kind of pride compared with whateverybob ditto's pride in her body.
She seems to have made a decent career out of it and while that isn't going to mean much when she dies young from a heart attack, I still cant help but think ... fair play (?)

Of course, good luck to her. I'm absolutely in favour of people saying they are happy with their life and don't want to change their appearance, but that's different from being proud about damaging your body.

 

[caid]

Of course, good luck to her. I'm absolutely in favour of people saying they are happy with their life and don't want to change their appearance, but that's different from being proud about damaging your body.

Your making it very hard to disagree with you
Be less rational damn you

 

[Penna]

Your making it very hard to disagree with you
Be less rational damn you

I'm all rationality, as anyone here who's read my ramblings knows.

 

[Synco]

Of course, good luck to her. I'm absolutely in favour of people saying they are happy with their life and don't want to change their appearance, but that's different from being proud about damaging your body.

Are there recent quotes from her that she is just 'proud' without any reserves? From what I remember, she talked quite openly about feeling dissatisfaction with her body, about trying to lose weight and being quite depressed because of her appearance.

I thought her stance was more about trying to preserve some kind of self esteem, self-love, and, yes, pride in spite of all that and the putdowns people like her regularly experience. Came across as a very reflective and honest person in interviews as far as I am concerned.

 

[Red Defence]

While we're in Canadia.

A Canadian man’s Star Trek-inspired license plate has been revoked after his public insurance company received complaints that it was offensive to indigenous people. The two-year-old plate, which reads “ASIMIL8,” is a sly reference to the Borg, evil aliens in Star Trek who “assimilate” their prey and go by the motto “Resistance is Futile.”

Manitoba local Nick Troller was informed by an agent from Manitoba Public Insurance on Wednesday that they had received complaints from two people about the word “assimilate,” which they claimed is offensive to minorities. He was then served a letter informing him that “it has been brought to the attention of this office that the personalized plate ASIMIL8 is considered offensive,” and was ordered to surrender it immediately.

MPI has given Troller the option to replace the personalized plate with a new one free of charge or refund the $100 he paid for it.

Troller disagrees with the contention that the plate is offensive. “But that’s not the point,” he said. “We’ve become way too sensitive. You can’t say anything anymore to anybody.”

He told CTV News that prior to being notified of the complaints, he was only ever complimented for the interesting license plate by people who took photos of it.

The Borg “assimilating” a victim
The term “assimilate” can refer to the process in which members of a group are absorbed into the culture of another population. In the Star Trek franchise, the malevolent Borg forcibly assimilate sentient lifeforms into their machine “hivemind”.

Speaking to CTV News, a spokesperson for the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, Ry Moran, said that the word “assimilate” is indeed too offensive to be displayed on the plate, regardless of intent.

“Words like that, meant or not, have an actual impact on many people,” said Moran—as if one man’s Star Trek reference was capable of oppressing millions of Canadians.

In Manitoba, license plates are the property of the government and there is no appeal process for rejected or revoked slogans. MPI policy states that plates are prohibited from containing slogans that could be considered offensive. The Manitoba licensing bureau is treating complaints over the ASIMIL8 plate “very seriously” and will investigate why the plate was ever approved in the first place.

Absently mindedly opened this thread and started reading back through the posts. Within seconds I'd forgotten what the thread was about (bit tired and groggy tonight) and then I read this post. Well initially I read it absent mindedly and found I couldn't make any sense of it. Then I remembered the thread title so tried to pay attention and read it again....and again...and again.

Now I'm less groggy and I've read it 4 times and I still cannot for the life of me understand how anyone could possibly find the word on this licence plate offensive, never mind how the Manitoba licensing authority are to investigate why it was ever approved in the first place.

I am open to listening and trying to understand if anyone can explain rationally and sensibly why this word is so offensive.

 

[Penna]

Are there recent quotes from her that she is just 'proud' without any reserves? From what I remember, she talked quite openly about feeling dissatisfaction with her body, about trying to lose weight and being quite depressed because of her appearance.

I thought her stance was more about trying to preserve some kind of self esteem, self-love, and, yes, pride in spite of all that and the putdowns people like her regularly experience. Came across as a very reflective and honest person in interviews as far as I am concerned.

I don't know, I was basing my comment on what Pexbo said. If that's not the case, then she has my sympathy. It's hard for anyone to lose a lot of weight, especially if you're in the public eye.

 

[Mrs Smoker]

Doctor Who fans might end up in jail even.

 

[Kentonio]

Toronto gallery cancels show after concerns artist 'bastardizes' Indigenous art.

A painter accused of "cultural genocide", and other strange things happening in Canada at the moment.

http://www.cbc.ca/1.4091529

The guy leading the protests..

His own work flips Indigenous stereotypes on their head in everything from sports teams to film — taking well-known movie posters and recasting them with titles like The Bride of Frankensioux and Tribe of Dracula.

We apparently live in a world now where photoshopping can be considered 'work' if you sell it to the right target audience..

 

[Jippy]

While we're in Canadia.

A Canadian man’s Star Trek-inspired license plate has been revoked after his public insurance company received complaints that it was offensive to indigenous people. The two-year-old plate, which reads “ASIMIL8,” is a sly reference to the Borg, evil aliens in Star Trek who “assimilate” their prey and go by the motto “Resistance is Futile.”

Manitoba local Nick Troller was informed by an agent from Manitoba Public Insurance on Wednesday that they had received complaints from two people about the word “assimilate,” which they claimed is offensive to minorities. He was then served a letter informing him that “it has been brought to the attention of this office that the personalized plate ASIMIL8 is considered offensive,” and was ordered to surrender it immediately.

MPI has given Troller the option to replace the personalized plate with a new one free of charge or refund the $100 he paid for it.

Troller disagrees with the contention that the plate is offensive. “But that’s not the point,” he said. “We’ve become way too sensitive. You can’t say anything anymore to anybody.”

He told CTV News that prior to being notified of the complaints, he was only ever complimented for the interesting license plate by people who took photos of it.

The Borg “assimilating” a victim
The term “assimilate” can refer to the process in which members of a group are absorbed into the culture of another population. In the Star Trek franchise, the malevolent Borg forcibly assimilate sentient lifeforms into their machine “hivemind”.

Speaking to CTV News, a spokesperson for the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, Ry Moran, said that the word “assimilate” is indeed too offensive to be displayed on the plate, regardless of intent.

“Words like that, meant or not, have an actual impact on many people,” said Moran—as if one man’s Star Trek reference was capable of oppressing millions of Canadians.

In Manitoba, license plates are the property of the government and there is no appeal process for rejected or revoked slogans. MPI policy states that plates are prohibited from containing slogans that could be considered offensive. The Manitoba licensing bureau is treating complaints over the ASIMIL8 plate “very seriously” and will investigate why the plate was ever approved in the first place.

Nick Troller has the perfect name for this thread.

 

[Jippy]

Yale Students Have Symbolic Hunger Strike, Eat When Hungry

That's not how a hunger strike works...

http://dailycaller.com/2017/04/27/y...-hunger-strike-eat-when-hungry/#ixzz4fjrvTj7h

 

[PedroMendez]

Those brave souls are willing to make huge sacrifices on their strive for justice. I hope the police contemplates to symbolically force-feed them.

 

[Fener1907]

Yale Students Have Symbolic Hunger Strike, Eat When Hungry

That's not how a hunger strike works...

http://dailycaller.com/2017/04/27/y...-hunger-strike-eat-when-hungry/#ixzz4fjrvTj7h

A graduate student union at Yale University started a symbolic hunger strike outside of the university president’s home Tuesday, stating “when one of us cannot continue, come take our place.”

This is the generation that they'll look back on and pity for how pathetic and meek we were.

 

[Jippy]

This is the generation that they'll look back on and pity for how pathetic and meek we were.

It is a poxy effort with the students swapping over at meal times. I can't believe the uni took it seriously enough to warn them about 'putting their health at risk'.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

To think that Yale is one of the worlds top educational institutions.

 

[dumbo]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2...ters-of-colour-was-unfair-to-whites-dismissed

In 2009, it emerged that over an 18-month period Davies had sent the then equalities watchdog head Trevor Phillips 19 letters, with questions ranging from whether the Metropolitan Black Police Association discriminated because it limited membership to black people, to whether anti-discrimination laws ought to be extended “to cover bald people (and perhaps fat people and short people)”.

Would be utterly despairing if not so hysterically petty.

What's he even doing wasting time writing letters? Shouldn't he be out there starving poor children and pushing over disabled people like all good Tories?