Re: PC Manmonth

[Melissa Morgan <mmorgan -at- CDG-HARGRAY -dot- COM>]

Kevin McLauchlan wrote:
>Oh, by the way, my observation of the PC-language thing is
>that the formerly-standard usage (man, mankind, he, him, etc.
>for indeterminate or group designation) was not a problem to
>anybody until a few vocal people decided to *make* it a problem
>and then harangued us all until it became a fait-accompli.

And following this logic, not allowing women and African-americans to vote
was not
a problem either until a few vocal people decided to *make* it a problem.

Sorry to throw this in so late, but I think some of the "It doesn't really
matter" attitudes
I've seen here are kind of disturbing. I know PC is a pain in the neck, but
it too might
someday become the "traditional usage", and at least this time it will be a
result of
an informed society attempting to eliminate stereotypes and exclusionary
politics.
Also, I don't think we can say, with any certainty that the traditional
usages were not a
problem, per se, because it deals with more than who is offended or not. It
also deals
with the continuation of stereotypes that can be dangerous if only on a
subconscious
level.  For example, what about those who have read the traditional usages
all their
lives, and without even realizing, moved toward careers and/or mindsets
that would
not stray from the traditional constructs because it had been so ingrained
on the
subconscious level by the traditional usages? Why should we continue to
support
stereotypes that might not seem to have much of a surface impact, but could
deeply
impact the subconscious? More food for thought.

A very interesting side note here is a phrase many of us use fairly
regularly, "As a
rule of thumb." This phrase originated from the once prominent idea that it
was
acceptable for a man to beat his wife with a stick, so long as the stick
was not
larger in width than his thumb.  It's pretty incredible what we can take
for granted
when it comes to language.

PS--Always question the answers, and be aware that some of the most
dangerous answers are the ones that most strongly resist questioning.

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Melissa Morgan
mmorgan -at- CDG-hargray -dot- com

My opinions are just that, and not the opinions of my employer.

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