Excellent segment all around.

Would it be poltically incorrect for me to say, Amy, thay you have a sexy voice? Would you believe that, as much as I say pollitically incorrect things all the time when I speak and write, I hesitated before saying that out of an ingrained concern with being labeled sexist or an internet stalker?

Well, I said it anyway. :)

Excellent discussion Amy! I enjoyed it on this, our first warm sunny day of 2011.

I can't believe this topic is in any way controversial. You have brought up a hundred examples here on the blog- helicopter parents, banning of happy meals, etc. I wish Ms Oakley would create a pamphlet we could download next time the Jehovah's Witnesses bang on my door trying to save my damned soul.

PS- I did laugh a bit when you were outed as an athiest at 13:00. It sounded like you were a member of NAMBLA or something!

Is PJTV shot in Canada or something? Their shows look very Canadian to me, like 80's Canadian. Is that intentional?

That said, I do agree that altruism, and especially politically motivated altruism, is often driven by narcissism.

Their studio is near LAX (Barb was staying at my place -- nerdathon! -- so I drove us both there in my cute deathtrap) and Helen is on remote from her home in Kentucky.

It was an interesting discussion. Amy said something like people who go into politics are mostly out for themselves, but I don't buy into that. I think politicians are driven by a wide variety of factors, although narcissism is a factor for some. Often the motivation(s) comes from sincere convictions, including a profound sense of responsibility.

I think most people are averse to considering evidence that contradicts their beliefs. That partly explains the PC phenomenon.

Ahh, the Tarika Wilson case again.

What bothers me more than the politically correct is the larger number of people who think they are qualified to comment.

Note also that a major component of political correctness is the pre-identification of an "enemy" position.

And don't miss how people form beliefs. Don't forget that there is an emotional commitment to a belief.

Good show, y'all.

Isn't there more to the Jesse Jackson story, though? Something to do with a "litter of children" description, if I remember correctly? And since black Americans have been treated like sub-humans throughout our history, "litter" would be inflammatory to the unfamiliar.

Or is that something only the politically correct would find offensive and "enemy", as Radwaste says, having not scanned some of your archives?

Here's the link to Who Places A Lower Value On Black Lives? that started all the fun.

Amy, you're right. Assaulting the words and not addressing the message diverts from solving the issue.

In hopes of trying to help matters, I talk somewhat regularly at a school of inner city kids -- a talk designed to demystify making it

Hopefully it makes an impression on the kids. Mostly from what I read here, you give helpful advice, Amy.

It's far more helpful than weenie anonymous internet commenters (me included).

Political Correctness is what happens when White Guilt goes to college. It's a way for over-educated white people to make themselves comfortable with their racism.

I agree with most things that were said on the very interesting program, on which you came off very well, Amy, and the above comments.

But, I think people tend to get a bit too excited about demonizing "political correctness". I agree that there are many crazy examples of political correctness gone awry that are fun to point to, but isn't it appropriate to offer scorn to someone that says something stupid and insensitive?

When Rush Limbaugh goes on a ridiculous rant about the president of China speaking Chinese and spends five minutes making "ching-chong-ding-a-ling" sorts of noises in an effort to mock his language, isn't it appropriate to label him a buffoon and hold him up to ridicule? Does that example fall under the label "political correctness?"

I think the trouble is more that there are a lot of people that simply don't possess the power of logic. For example, attacking Amy for a fairly normal and obvious observation. The "litter" term was perhaps insensitive, but taken within the context of the whole thing, a logical person would not take offense. Plus, a logical person would not attack with such unbelievably unacceptable nonsense as calling Amy a transvestite.

It seems to me that the "political correctness" thing is a lot like the Fox News generated "war on Christmas" and the "sexual harassment epidemic that doesn't even allow you to compliment a woman" non-issue. You can find incidents of craziness that make the news, but it's really just a matter of not saying stupid shit that shows your ass.

wD -

It isn't appropriate to mock Limbaugh for doing what a thousand stand-up comedians have already done. Mock all, or mock none. Limbaugh was attacked because he's a conservative, nothing more.

Very interesting, and I liked what you had to say about bullying people into using only certain language. Have you ever considered making appearances on camera more often, perhaps in a Vlog where you'd could post videos whenever you choose? The reason I say that is it's so easy to misinterpret a person's message or tone in print (especially on blogs and message boards), and I just found actually hearing you speak and explain your thoughts made a big difference in helping reinforce your point. Not that I didn't agree with you before, just throwing it out there.

Dont know what going on with doc helens site, but I cant get the video to play past 20 seconds

Page cpomes up, video is taking forever - might be my internet provider, I overshot my 5 gig limit by a bit, but I started a new billing cycle so my speeds are supposed to be back - jackasses are always trying to weasle out of that though

Thanks, whistledick. Reminds me of what Miss Manners once said. I can't find the exact quotation right now, but she said that she's practically the only person to notice that there are TWO types of political correctness, just as there are two types of cholesterol.

I prefer to use the term "common decency" referring to good PCness, and "racism" or "sexism" when I'm referring to such. As political comedian Barry Crimmins said in the early 1990s - not verbatim - "I think the term PC is pretty cynical and it undermines the progress we've made, the lines we've drawn....I don't hold with the idea of 'oh, why don't you loosen up and be a racist like me.' ")