Strangely Naked

Was Martin Luther King Jr. too “PC”? I ask because I am exhausted by people talking about “PC culture” or the “PC Brigade” or general complaining about the world becoming too “PC” or being offended by people who are easily offended. But what no one ever explains to me is where is the line between PC and general bigotry? At what point are people being too sensitive, when they are demanding equality, is that too far?

Much like how award shows for movies are complete garbage because assessing the value of a movie or song or artistic endeavor is completely subjective, labeling someone or something as “too PC” is subjective. For anyone to say that there’s a particular group of people who are too PC is disingenuous and a vain attempt to label one’s self as the arbiter of what is/is not acceptable while also feeling victimized.

For some reason people have a deep need to feel like a victim, whether that be a victim of hate speech or the victim of the PC Crowd. Is it because we’ve seen so many underdog stories that the only way we can feel like the hero is if we’re being victimized? Is it because of the weird Neanderthal gene where we need to separate ourselves into tribes, so we need to vilify other people?

Whatever it is, please believe me, we are all just people and need to be approached as individuals. That’s my point, there is no “PC crowd” and society isn’t anywhere near becoming “too PC.” It’s not real. It’s all a very recent invention by people who have run out of things to complain about and need to feel like an underdog.

There are individuals who have pet concerns and are given the microphone of the internet. There are individuals who want to feel like a a hero by shaming others. Because that’s they’re only outlet for feeling like a hero. There are also people who don’t want to consider that they goofed and said something mean in a public forum and don’t wan to feel bad about that so lash out at accusers. On either side there are jerks. It’s all nonsense and whining about people being too easily offended is hacky.

Everyone has a line. We all have our own internal system for deciding what is and is not offensive. So the idea that there is a group of people who are too PC is flawed because at any moment you, oh brave defender of the offensive, will find yourself thinking someone has gone too far. What fits in the boundary of political correctness (I should have spelled that out sooner)? Are people too politically correct  for calling Bill Cosby a rapist? Are people being too sensitive for not wanting to watch a Roman Polanski film? Would I be offending someone if I called OJ Simpson one of my favorite comedic actors (Naked Gun forever!)?

Either way, people don’t like to be challenged. We all want to feel like the hero of our own story. So, when we get called out for saying something that may bum out a small group of people who have a hard time simply due to a circumstance of birth, it challenges our own personal hero-narrative. Rather than look at ourselves and change–which is scary–instead we lash out at this phantom PC Crowd. It’s okay to self-assess. It’s okay to admit being wrong. Being someone who says horrible things regularly, I may apologize for this tomorrow.

People can complain about anything as being insensitive. I could argue that The Peanuts gang is insensitive. They portray an insensitivity toward people with mental delusions and childhood cancer (Snoopy is the one with psychosis, Charlie is the cancer kid). But that doesn’t mean I’m right or that anyone has to listen to me. Also, you’re not affected by people complaining about things that do not affect you. You can ignore them. (I should take my own advice.)

Think about who you’re siding with when you complain about the PC Crowd. Are you siding with those who are enraged that they can’t fly the Confederate flag or call people racist names? There are some individuals who are quick to martyr themselves and that’s what you’re doing when you complain about things being “too PC.” Be careful because there are hyper-disgusting-racists who may be holding your hand cheerleading the anti-PC nonsense.

No matter what, try to be polite. Martin Luther King was polite. He held polite marches, politely and eloquently spoke and it made people think, “huh, maybe I am doing something wrong by not wanting to treat people equally.” That should teach all of us that being courteous is more likely to result in change. Complaining about people being mean or too easily offended in a rude manner will only result in more anger (like my being angry at people who are angry at people who are angry).

Not sure where I fall complaining about complaining about complaining, but I do hope someone complains about my complaint about complaints about complaining.