Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

General chit-chat

Moderators: AMod, iMod

marjoram_blues
Posts: 1629
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:50 pm

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by marjoram_blues »

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:
marjoram_blues wrote:
Arising_uk wrote:Not really, it was a term invented by the right-wing to deride the changes in behaviour they saw happening that they didn't like.
For anyone interested in the historical changes in meaning:
A Googly find: at 'English Language and Usage Stack Exchange'.
An American site. A bit like sending someone interested in evolution to 'Answers in Genesis'.
So, where would you send someone interested in the historical changes in meaning?
User avatar
Harbal
Posts: 10729
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:03 pm
Location: Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by Harbal »

Walker wrote:Why should I start caring what you believe?
I could tell you why I believe you should care but in the light of what you've just said, there doesn't seem much point.
Walker
Posts: 16386
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:00 am

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by Walker »

Harbal wrote:
Walker wrote:Why should I start caring what you believe?
I could tell you why I believe you should care but in the light of what you've just said, there doesn't seem much point.
Yeah? Laughs are cheap. Get serious sometime and we'll see.

Besides, the very fact that you could not give me an honest, straight answer instead of the usual bullshit, speaks volumns.

Volumns.

And before you lump yourself in with everyone, while excluding me, there are thinkers here I respect.
User avatar
Arising_uk
Posts: 12259
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by Arising_uk »

Harbal wrote:Just for once keep that big beak of yours shut and listen, you chicken headed Londoner.
Fuck's it got to do with you?
User avatar
Arising_uk
Posts: 12259
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by Arising_uk »

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Doesn't even make sense.
Meanings in English change over time.
p.s.
I forgot to say I stand corrected on who invented the term.
User avatar
vegetariantaxidermy
Posts: 13975
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Narniabiznus

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by vegetariantaxidermy »

Arising_uk wrote:
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Doesn't even make sense.
Meanings in English change over time.
p.s.
I forgot to say I stand corrected on who invented the term.
The meaning hasn't changed. It's just used in a (deservedly) ironic and derogatory way now to project some of that smug, morally-superior thought-policing back onto the ones who have decided that they get to say what is 'correct' and what isn't (and right-wing science-denying fascists don't even know what irony means, let alone how to use it). That is all that has changed. Did the Toni Cade Bambera quote not mean anything to you? She wasn't being derogatory. She was deadly serious. She was simply stating a fact as she saw it, although I doubt if male chauvinists particularly care whether or not they are being 'correct'.
User avatar
Arising_uk
Posts: 12259
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by Arising_uk »

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:The meaning hasn't changed. It's just used in a (deservedly) ironic and derogatory way now to project some of that smug, morally-superior thought-policing back onto the ones who have decided that they get to say what is 'correct' and what isn't (and right-wing science-denying fascists don't even know what irony means, let alone how to use it). That is all that has changed. Did the Toni Cade Bambera quote not mean anything to you? She wasn't being derogatory. She was deadly serious. She was simply stating a fact as she saw it, although I doubt if male chauvinists particularly care whether or not they are being 'correct'.
I thought her quote was correct? If you are going to be politically correct in the latter sense and not the C18 one then you can't be a chauvinist. The point of PC is not to stop you thinking what you think but to stop you spouting it at those you think it about and by and large it's changed my country for the better, my opinion mind. It's why the right-wing hate it. But then I did grow up in different times from you I guess although it sounds like the good old days are coming back. Good in a way I think as there's bits I don't like about multiculturalism and, in my opinion, was used to ignore the issue of politics in multiracial society which accepts immigration.
User avatar
vegetariantaxidermy
Posts: 13975
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Narniabiznus

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by vegetariantaxidermy »

Arising_uk wrote:
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:The meaning hasn't changed. It's just used in a (deservedly) ironic and derogatory way now to project some of that smug, morally-superior thought-policing back onto the ones who have decided that they get to say what is 'correct' and what isn't (and right-wing science-denying fascists don't even know what irony means, let alone how to use it). That is all that has changed. Did the Toni Cade Bambera quote not mean anything to you? She wasn't being derogatory. She was deadly serious. She was simply stating a fact as she saw it, although I doubt if male chauvinists particularly care whether or not they are being 'correct'.
I thought her quote was correct? If you are going to be politically correct in the latter sense and not the C18 one then you can't be a chauvinist. The point of PC is not to stop you thinking what you think but to stop you spouting it at those you think it about and by and large it's changed my country for the better, my opinion mind. It's why the right-wing hate it. But then I did grow up in different times from you I guess although it sounds like the good old days are coming back. Good in a way I think as there's bits I don't like about multiculturalism and, in my opinion, was used to ignore the issue of politics in multiracial society which accepts immigration.
I don't know how old you are so I wouldn't know what times you grew up in. I don't see what difference that makes though. I do have awareness outside my own personal experience. There is a big difference between passion and fanaticism. Social awareness is a wonderful thing when it's genuine and not some twat spouting off anything that they think might make them look as if they are 'better' and more righteous than anyone else, hence their permanently switched-on 'ra(cism)dar', used to sniff out even the tiniest hint of 'racism' or 'offensiveness' in the most inane or innocent places. Very similar tactics to the Spanish Inquisition. It's not political correctness that has driven social evolution. The sad and scary part is that the powerful PC lobby is driving people towards 'the right'. People don't like being told what to think, or being told they are 'racist bigots' when they are not. Unfortunately 'the right' is even more oppressive and stifling. Trump is the baby of PC. I don't know why they are so upset about their endearing little creation.
marjoram_blues
Posts: 1629
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:50 pm

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by marjoram_blues »

Arising_uk wrote:
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Doesn't even make sense.
Meanings in English change over time.
p.s.
I forgot to say I stand corrected on who invented the term.
:)
So who invented it ?

Yes; it seems fairly obvious that meanings in English change over time. For various reasons.
Semantic change - the evolution of word usage - can be about how even just one meaning of a particular word is altered by eg political or sociocultural forces.
Walker
Posts: 16386
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:00 am

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by Walker »

Harbal wrote:
Walker wrote:Why should I start caring what you believe?
I could tell you why I believe you should care but in the light of what you've just said, there doesn't seem much point.
The point, is edification, but not of a particular body/mind, but for the benefit of all.
- The point, is once truth takes the form of words, it is available to all.
- Especially to those to whom the truth may not have occurred, as yet.

I’ll answer it for you.

Q: Why should I start caring what you believe?

A: Because, you are not your beliefs. Because, one should care about the thoughts of all people, knowing that the thoughts are not the real person. (A variation on, the sinner is not the sin.) In practical terms, once that happens, then how to care and not care spontaneously arises. A paradox, but necessary for survival, or the world will take all you have, right down to the bone. Concepts such as equanimity then follow after one realizes this.
User avatar
vegetariantaxidermy
Posts: 13975
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Narniabiznus

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by vegetariantaxidermy »

Arising_uk wrote:
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:The meaning hasn't changed. It's just used in a (deservedly) ironic and derogatory way now to project some of that smug, morally-superior thought-policing back onto the ones who have decided that they get to say what is 'correct' and what isn't (and right-wing science-denying fascists don't even know what irony means, let alone how to use it). That is all that has changed. Did the Toni Cade Bambera quote not mean anything to you? She wasn't being derogatory. She was deadly serious. She was simply stating a fact as she saw it, although I doubt if male chauvinists particularly care whether or not they are being 'correct'.
I thought her quote was correct? If you are going to be politically correct in the latter sense and not the C18 one then you can't be a chauvinist. The point of PC is not to stop you thinking what you think but to stop you spouting it at those you think it about and by and large it's changed my country for the better, my opinion mind. It's why the right-wing hate it. But then I did grow up in different times from you I guess although it sounds like the good old days are coming back. Good in a way I think as there's bits I don't like about multiculturalism and, in my opinion, was used to ignore the issue of politics in multiracial society which accepts immigration.
That's mostly incoherent. What is C18? If you don't know what is meant by PC by now then there's nothing much I can do about that. PC certainly isn't about being 'nice' or 'kind'. Our own darling resident distilledSJW has been helpful enough to demonstrate just how 'kind' and 'rational' they are.
And by saying 'the right-wing hate it' is just another way to silence criticism and argument. That's like saying liberals are 'right-wing' because they value free speech. Besides, 'the right' hate everything and everyone, and wear their racism as a badge of honour.
uwot
Posts: 6092
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:21 am

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by uwot »

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:
Arising_uk wrote:
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:... PC is an ironic term. ...
Not really, it was a term invented by the right-wing to deride the changes in behaviour they saw happening that they didn't like.
What else could it be but ironic? It's really not that difficult. Now that pretty well every political term has been rendered useless by misuse and private agendas, it's probably the only definition that makes any sense.

''The earliest printed reference that is unambiguous in its use of 'politically correct' in its current commonly understood sense is Toni Cade's The Black Woman, 1970:

"A man cannot be politically correct and a chauvinist too." ''
Some clever clog took note, and turned the expression back on them, making it into an ironic and derogatory term, instead of a proudly smug and and morally-superior one.
Well, you have just given two uses of the term. So you have answered your own question: other than ironic, it could be "proudly smug". Words are only useless if you ignore the context. As an "ironic and derogatory term" it has been 'misused' by right wing agitators to massively exaggerate the impact that 'political correctness' has on freedom of speech. Of course there are ridiculous examples of self righteous idiots, but the threat posed to civil liberties is negligible, unless you think your right to use language that is gratuitously provocative is greater than someone else's right not to be verbally abused. There is a balance to be struck, because, as you rightly imply, there are some people and ideas that don't warrant any protection.
User avatar
vegetariantaxidermy
Posts: 13975
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Narniabiznus

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by vegetariantaxidermy »

uwot wrote:
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:
Arising_uk wrote:Not really, it was a term invented by the right-wing to deride the changes in behaviour they saw happening that they didn't like.
What else could it be but ironic? It's really not that difficult. Now that pretty well every political term has been rendered useless by misuse and private agendas, it's probably the only definition that makes any sense.

''The earliest printed reference that is unambiguous in its use of 'politically correct' in its current commonly understood sense is Toni Cade's The Black Woman, 1970:

"A man cannot be politically correct and a chauvinist too." ''
Some clever clog took note, and turned the expression back on them, making it into an ironic and derogatory term, instead of a proudly smug and and morally-superior one.
Well, you have just given two uses of the term. So you have answered your own question: other than ironic, it could be "proudly smug". Words are only useless if you ignore the context. As an "ironic and derogatory term" it has been 'misused' by right wing agitators to massively exaggerate the impact that 'political correctness' has on freedom of speech. Of course there are ridiculous examples of self righteous idiots, but the threat posed to civil liberties is negligible, unless you think your right to use language that is gratuitously provocative is greater than someone else's right not to be verbally abused. There is a balance to be struck, because, as you rightly imply, there are some people and ideas that don't warrant any protection.
Which question?
uwot
Posts: 6092
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:21 am

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by uwot »

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:What else could it be but ironic?
I think it is clear that 'political correctness' means different things to different people. I agree that there are 'politically correct' people, ranging from the smug to the violent, that need to be resisted. In my opinion, they are playing into the hands of Brexiters, Trump, the Alt-Right, religious fundamentalists and associated right wing nuts, by giving them the headlines they need to support their narrative, that freedom of speech is under attack, by anyone to the left of Mussolini. After all, few people look at more than the headlines.
User avatar
vegetariantaxidermy
Posts: 13975
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Narniabiznus

Re: Is the term "redneck" politically correct ?

Post by vegetariantaxidermy »

uwot wrote:
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:What else could it be but ironic?
I think it is clear that 'political correctness' means different things to different people. I agree that there are 'politically correct' people, ranging from the smug to the violent, that need to be resisted. In my opinion, they are playing into the hands of Brexiters, Trump, the Alt-Right, religious fundamentalists and associated right wing nuts, by giving them the headlines they need to support their narrative, that freedom of speech is under attack, by anyone to the left of Mussolini. After all, few people look at more than the headlines.
Freedom of speech is under attack. I'm not on the 'right', and I'm saying it. It only means 'different things to different people' because too many people are too stupid to understand what it means.
Post Reply