PC culture is permeating our society more than ever nowadays, and with social media usage at an all-time high, we are exposed to everyone else’s thoughts and opinions on a daily basis. The right to be offended should be added to the constitution at this point considering how quickly everyone is to call out anyone for anything they may find distasteful. But how did this change to what we “can” and “can’t” say come about so quick? Why have we become so restrictive about what you can say? In my opinion, people are getting too delicate and sensitive in today’s day and age and with the matter of political correctness at hand, I decided to delve into how this, in my opinion, pansy epidemic came to be so apparent.
By definition, PC culture is “A term used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society.” So, don’t get me wrong, I’m not for being blatantly offensive to other people and who they are. Think of the PC culture that I am referring to like fourth-wave feminism. Starting out as women seeking what are now basic rights and to be treated as equals when it came to voting, working, etc. but as the years have gone by and waves have rolled over we are in the age of “feminazis” and SJW’s using bullhorns, caps lock, and vagina hats to prove their points. It’s the same for modern PC culture. With starts as a joke about the left in the late 20th century, it has evolved into a near necessity to abide by in the realm of the internet and media. For instance, the Pepe the Frog incident. A meme started on 4chan of a frog with various facial expressions was edited by white supremacists to relay their beliefs. A once “good vibe” meme, got swiftly added to the Anti-Defamation League’s list of hate symbols. This to me is a perfect example of PC culture going too far, and nearly memeing its very existence itself.
Now again, I do not condone the belittling of others, but at the same time in my opinion as a teen of the internet, I see people taking this whole PC movement too far. While attempting to execute “social justice” I see people on the daily do exactly what they say what they are fighting against, being rude to others because of who they are. It’s gone from calling out people for being blatantly racist to people calling out anyone whom their ideas and values do not line up with. As the term originally came from a joke about leftists, I find that to still run through with today’s culture as most PC activists I see are attacking right-wing humans simply for their political views. It seems that we must censor ourselves to please everyone to not be called out, which is impossible. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right and the right to your own opinion is given to every human on this planet. A right we do not have though is to slander those who’s opinions we differ from. As in typical internet fashion, a good thing was taken and ran with only to blow up into unfortunate proportions. The unreasonable goal of not offending anyone with your words is again, unreasonable, to ask of the internet. Quite honestly, instead of trying to sensor people, I believe we should try the route of just scrolling past, and getting some thicker skin.
All in all, PC culture I believe had good intentions but unfortunately has not followed through. Expecting everyone with a twitter account to abide by your sensitivities is arbitrary. While seeking justice for haters is reasonable, attacking others for not following your idea of what should and shouldn’t be said is dumb and has created an environment where intentions are misconstrued, jokes are taken out of context, and special snowflakes everywhere getting upset. If it were up to me, new wave PC culture would be treated as a joke, as it has gotten out of hand.