Originally Posted by
DGUtley
C'mon, this is civility? (from multiple sources)
1. Throughout several US councils and organizations, any terms using the word 'man' as a prefix or suffix have been ruled as not being politically correct. 'Manhole' is now referred to as a 'utility' or 'maintenance' hole.
2. A school in Seattle renamed its Easter eggs 'spring spheres' to avoid causing offence to people who did not celebrate Easter.
3. In 2007, Santa Clauses in Sydney, Australia, were banned from saying 'Ho Ho Ho'. Their employer, the recruitment firm Westaff (that supplies hundreds of Santas across Australia), allegedly told all trainees that 'ho ho ho' could frighten children, and be derogatory to women. Why ? Because 'Ho Ho Ho' is too close to the American (not Australian, mind you) slang for prostitute.
4. Some US schools now have a 'holiday tree' every at Christmas, rather than a Christmas tree.
5. Students Debate Removing Famous MLK Quote Because it Isn’t Gender Inclusive - Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington in 1963 has been hailed as one of the greatest speeches in American history, featuring the line, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” But according to National Review, student leaders at the University of Oregon considered removing that quote, which has been displayed on a wall at a student center since 1985, because it does not address discrimination based on gender identity. According to the campus newspaper, the student leaders eventually decided not to remove the quote after some “hard thought.”
6. College Bans Term ‘Freshman,’ Claiming it Promotes Rape - North Carolina’s Elon University banned the term “freshman,” saying it is sexist and might promote sexual violence. The preferred term used in new student orientations and on the college’s website is “first-year.”
7. Seattle Police Can’t Use Word ‘Suspects’ in Reports -- Seattle Police Department officers who fill out reports can no longer use the word “suspect.” Instead, they must use the term “community member.” The change, first reported by Seattle media in early 2017, has upset many police officers, who must use the term even in “use of force” reports. After three officers were shot responding to an armed robbery in April, they were required to refer to the shooter as a “community member.” “I think this is all in an effort to make sure our report writing sounds politically correct,” Seattle Police Officers’ Guild Kevin Stuckey told KIRO 7 TV.
8. Princeton University Bans Use of ‘Man’ -- Many people would agree that there are certain words and phrases where “man” might not be the best fit. For example, terms such as businessman, fireman, policeman and spokesman can easily be replaced by businessperson, firefighter, police officer and spokesperson to reflect the fact that women also perform those roles. These words have become an accepted part of our culture. But Princeton University is taking the “man” removal mission to another level. According to thecollegefix.com, Princeton’s HR department in 2016 issued a four-page memo banning the use of “man.” So instead of the phrase, “man and wife,” faculty members are expected to use “spouses” or “partners.” “Manmade” becomes “artificial,” “workmanlike” becomes “skillful,” and “layman” should be replaced by “non-specialist.”
9. Doctors’ Group Discourages Use of Term ‘Expectant Mother’ -- The U.S. isn’t the only country where political correctness has spiraled out of control. The British Medical Association told its members in 2017 that the term “expectant mother” should be avoided because it might offend transgender people. Instead, the preferred term is “pregnant people.” But women’s rights activist Laura Perrins told the Daily Mail the action is ”anti-science, anti-women and anti-mother … This will offend women up and down the country, and is an example of the majority of women being insulted for a tiny minority of people.”
10. University Bans Use of Phrase ‘Politically Incorrect’ - In 2015, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee declared the phase “politically incorrect” as taboo. “Over time PC has become a way to deflect, say that people are being too ‘sensitive,’ and police language,” reads a poster created by the university’s Inclusive Excellence Center. “It is disconnected from authentic understanding of impact.” Use of the PC term is considered a microaggression at the university.
11. Teacher’s Course Claims Math is a ‘Dehumanizing Tool’ - In the summer of 2017, middle-school math teachers can take an online course entitled “Teaching Social Justice through Secondary Mathematics.” According to CampusReform.org, the concepts include recognizing that, “For centuries, mathematics has been used as a dehumanizing tool,” and “math is a powerful tool for advocacy or oppression.” The six-week course, developed by Teach for America and offered through EdX, also explores “Mathematical Identity,” which “raises the issue that when we think of renowned mathematicians, many of us reference educated Western white males.”