It seems that being politically incorrect is a badge of pride for some folks. That’s certainly nothing new, after all Bill Maher had a talk show by that name in the nineties. It’s a reaction to perceived political correctness, which by some accounts is a form of cultural Marxism and by others is a creation of the right. Whatever you believe about PC’s origins and how valuable it may or may not be, that is not the dragon I am here to slay.

I respect frank talk. I think that if you have an opinion then you should share it. I love the fact that most people who comment here don’t pull any punches. We don’t accomplish anything by simply echoing back opinions and if you have a problem with what someone says then the only way to overcome it is to bring it out. One or both of you might be wrong and there’s no way to discover that outside of a little conflict. That sort of political incorrectness I can deal with and I, in fact, encourage.

There’s another sort though. It’s rudeness, cloaked by a rebel attitude. “I’m so cool, look at me tear down the established belief system.” It seems like there are people who believe that if you think an idea is stupid or a person is a moron then you do a disservice if you don’t point it out. I could address the level of arrogance that’s going on there, but that’s perhaps a different post. So let me ask you a question, assuming you’re right what good does being politically incorrect in that sense do?

If your goal is to take that moron and turn him around, do you think you’d do that by being PI? Has anyone changed your mind in that way? I mean I suppose it’s possible, but we have an old (and a little disgusting) saying here in the south about flies, vinegar and honey. That doesn’t mean that you need to kiss someone’s backside or be less than truthful. I don’t advocate even the “little white lies” that some say are necessary for society to function. So be honest, even or especially if it’s not PC, but don’t be disrespectful. You can vehemently disagree with someone and do it respectfully. The Golden Rule whether stated positively or negatively applies here. If you don’t want to be called a rude name then I would suggest that you don’t call others by a rude name.

If your goal isn’t to persuade someone then I think that should send up a red flag. If you think that someone is so far to the polar opposite side of your own thought process that they will simply never change then why bother bringing it to their attention, especially in a negative way? I think a good example here would be some of the anti-religious sites I visit. They call us all manner of unkind names. They drag our belief systems through the mud. And they do this, so they might say, to bring us enlightenment. That strikes me as a little deluded though. Maybe, just maybe they’ll change the mind of someone sitting on the fence, but that’s about it. I think what they’re really doing is stirring up their base and striving to make themselves look all dangerous and edgy. The anti-theists aren’t alone though. I’ve seen this on both sides of the political and religious divides. Really any arena where you have divergent beliefs will likely have some sort of PI hero.

So, I think that there’s a place for being PC and a place for being PI but most important, no matter what your leanings, there’s a huge place for respect and love.