Okay this morning I was listening to my favorite "morning show". And this is what they were talking about.

An advertisment ran during the Superbowl this year for General Motors. Maybe you remember (i did and thought it was funny) it was about a robot that helped put cars together.....The factory had shut down b/c no one wanted to buy their products anymore. So our friend the robot tried to do various other things and just can't seem to do anything right. So he tries to be homeless (and he could not even hold the sign right) he throws the sign down and kind of pitches a fit. So then off our dear and very sad robot goes off and right up to a bridge.... and he throws himself off!! Then he wakes up to realize he is dreaming b/c the GM factory has such great products that he would never lose his job!!

Suicide prevention groups were up in arms over this and GM has bowed to pressure and remade this commercial. I was wondering if you thought it is right to be so darn sensitive. Having said that my great-grandfather killed himself when I was 12. He was being forced to give up his drivers license and move into a nursing home by my step-grandmother. (granddad had already past) He couldn't take the thought of having everything he worked for taken away from him by someone else....so he DROVE himself off and shot himself. Terrible and I just don't want you ppl to think I,personally am making a joke about suicide. The point of the prevention groups was that this might lead someone into killing themselves b/c they saw the robot do it.

What do you guys think?

IMHO yes we are. You have to be careful what you say about anything and then heavens if soemthing that someone doesn't like slips out you would think the earth would fall off its axis.

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Laura
Please visit my blog
http://mylifeinlaurasworld.blogspot.com/

I do think that sometimes we take the PC-ness to a ridiculous level.

I remember the Superbowl commercial for a candy bar (Snickers?) where the two guys were both eating the candy bar and wound up lip to lip. The commercial was FUNNY! But, folks got offended and protested and lo and behold the commercial was gone.

Now it was a joke, it was a commercial for a candy bar not a commercial for the gay movement. I think folks need to lighten up a bit and take thing for their intended purpose, a humorous commercial spot a joke, whatever.

Do I get upset every time I hear a "Jew" joke? No...because I know that it's just what it is....a JOKE. They are not attacking ME personally as a Jewish person.

Do I want to be referred to as a European-American? Nope....Just American, thanks!

I think we need to take a step back and realize that there are so many more problems in the world, like poverty, homelessness & disease that we need to be worried about. Not getting so worked up about being "PC"

In some ways but where to draw the line? It is feasible that someone can be offended by anything. On another board we were discussing this same subject and a woman who works in a school said a parent said she was offended by the color of the walls!
At the same time we need to be sensitive to others. I don't get upset at Italian jokes, menopause jokes, and other jokes but I tend to get offended at fat people cracks because in my mind they perpetuate the misconceptions. Other people would be offended by Italian jokes not fat ones.

So I think the best thing to do is to take each situation and use your common sense. If you are racist or something you know it unless you are in denial big time. Use good intentions and common sense and realize how your words can affect others.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

WAY TOO PC!

LOL at the school wall color anndrose and being offended. I guess it's easy to see why. Aren't most school wall colors the same as the color used in insane asylum's??? At least that's what I heard on a cable show awhile back.

I think sexual harrassment classes (to prevent it) have gotten out of control as well. Did you know that you aren't supposed to tell someone they "look nice" anymore? It is sexual harrassment. Nice haircut....nix that too. This is the information given at a fortune 500 companies sexual harrassment classes that management must attned. Give me a break

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Yes, I do...

And I think that sometimes the Principal needs to give some of those kids a good whupping... At least the fear of it was there when we were in school. Now, the schools have to go so overboard w/ PC that the kids are learning that they can get away with anything. It's gone 180 degrees since I was a kid.

Cuthie, great story to tell on that one:
I was helping in my son's 2nd grade class and had a reading group with me. Topic got to spanking somehow (you know kids) and I said that when I was in school, the principal had a paddle and you would get spanked if you got sent to her office. One boy said, "the principal would be put in jail". I told him that that's not the way it was 25 someodd years ago... He proceeded to go on and say that if his mom EVER spanked him he would call the police and tell them he was abused. It was a jaw dropping moment. *I* wanted to spank that kid when he said that (although he didn't know that). I think it's wrong when a 7 year old thinks they have the upper hand on you (and he probably does).

Another story (sorry OP): my son was 5 and in kindergarten. Kid gave him a 1 inch long plastick GI Joe gun (not bigger than my pinkie finger). My son didn't know what the heck it was. We hadn't exposed him to any sort of guns (honestly). Teacher saw it with my son in class and he got suspeded for 2 days because he "had a gun at school". INSANE! They have a zero tolerance policy on weapons. It's enough to see why so many people homeschool (not up for that yet). My son even told the school he didn't even know what a gun was and they called him a liar and when I reiterated, they called me a liar with "every boy knows what a gun is". I love how they think they know everything. Glad we are at another school now

sorry for the takeover

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I'm not too easily offended, but jokes about suicide are about as funny as jokes about cancer. Some things are better shared between people who know each other, rather than broadcast publicly.

I think it's way too much PC. Everything offends everyone now. It's just ridiculous! And the ACLU certainly doesn't help matters any. They'll take on anyone and everything.

It is way out of hand !!

example;
Why would an Indian used as a team mascot insult an Indian tribe?

Grannyshirl

You go girl. I never could figure out how that offended anyone either.....if anything didn't it prompt interest in that particular group of Indians?!?!? Would people be more exposed to their way of life, culturally and their struggle?

Agree 100%. Blondes, women, polish, Irish, Catholic, Polish, enginerd, you-name-it jokes don't bother me a bit...but think suicide is not a good topic for jokes and I cringe every time I hear one. That topic aside, I do think we are getting too politically correct. It's gotten to the point where no matter what you say or do, someone will get their shorts in a wad.

cj/

That's my alma-mater .... darned saddest thing to lose Chief Illiniwek!

I understand that the Indian team name thing was offensive because the Indians didn't want to be perceived as "wild" and "fighting." I can remember the principal telling us we were acting like a bunch of "wild Indians" - now he wouldn't be allowed to say that, and I'm glad.

Also, the term "Indian giver" is no longer used - it suggests that a kid taking back their gift when they get upset is akin to Indian customs. I'm glad we've gotten away from some of that.

What I don't understand is that we can't say to kids at school "Sit Indian-style" anymore. We have to say "Sit 'CRISS CROSS APPLESAUCE' style, kids!" Not sure why that would be offensive to Indians. But apparently it is, and I'm all for not making people feel singled out and different.

Well, I guess that I always thought the symbolism of the Chief and his dance was strength, pride, and spirtualism. At least that's what Illiniwek meant to me; not wild and fighting as in barbarian or anything.

Instead, some people will probably be left with the stereotypical Native American image of lack of education, low income, and alcoholism - now THAT is sad.

Just my NSH opinion,
cj/

I was shocked by the superbowl commercial personally. I have major depression and am at times, suicidal. However, I was surprised when groups were up in arms about it. I figured I was the only one who was bothered by it.

That having been said, I thought the commercial with the guys accidentally touching lips was hysterical and can't see what the fuss is about with the Indian team names (DH is native american and he doesn't either).

HotwheelQT

what would you say to the gay community that was offended by the snickers commercial (i believe it was snickers feel free to correct if it wasn't)...that their opinion isn't valid b/c it didn't bother you???? Please don't think that I trying to rag you.....My point is this.....we are to P.C........it only bothers us if it is to close to home. The snickers commercial didn't bother you b/c your not a gay male, right. Well, the robot commercial didn't bother me cause Im not suicidal.
We all need to get over it.

Here is a good example of PC'ness. A classic Disney movie made over 60 years ago. There is talk of them releasing it to DVD, but I don't think it'll ever happen.

'Song of the South' release mulled despite possible controversy - USATODAY.com

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This space for rent

This right here is another reason Mycoupons is not a safe place to come
--It seems that every time I say something I get singled out. I will never forget the sweet post someone posted the day my son was injured when the school bus driver drove off with him in the under the bus storage bin. I came here for compassion, as you all do when something bad happens in your life and was attacked for reporting the incident to the school transportation office. This post was pulled later that evening, but the damage was done...i'd read it.

I've been on mycoupons since 1999. I was happy when the board resumed but have time and time again been singled out--which seems a bit off when I don't post very often and sure don't say anything terribly controversial. I would post 10 times the number of posts that I do, but I stop myself because of this very reason.

OH and you're right. I need to "get over" being suicidal. I'd LOVE to. But it's something that I deal with each and every day. I'm sorry that my small response to my personal reaction to a commercial offended you so much that you felt like you need to attack me.


So long Mycouponers....after 7 years, I've had enough.
Janet

Janet,
I have never singled you out never even can remember having an exchange between the two of us. I hope you do not leave my coupons I feel it is a wonderful site. Maybe you were unable to read all of my last post...but it did say that I was not trying to rag on you....I had never or would never want to do that. I firmly believe you were making my point about being to P.C. and I was trying to point that out as delicately as I could.

Very sincerely
Vicki

Also, when I said that we all need to get over it I was refering to being to P.C.. And I did say WE not you. I feel that maybe you are taking this a little too personally and it was never meant ot be that.

As someone told me a few years ago when I felt attacked on a message board... 'the words are pixels on the screen'. It seemed to put it in perspective for me.

Actually people LOVE their mascots! Drive thru Ohio when the Indians are playing and their "chief" is hanging all over the place!

Has anyone talked about "wild or fighting" Indians since those old cowboy movies!

They should get over it and work on some REAL problems!
They have hunger,poverty , and some real Indian problems that need our concern!

DH bought this over the Christmas Holiday, on DVD. I'd never heard of it before.

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I think everyone could easily feel attacked every once in a while. I know I did when we talked about homework but I figure that I really enjoy it here and I'm not going to agree with everyone. I didn't read anything attacking in this thread....differing opinions, yes, but not attacks. I hope no one leaves

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Janet,
There are a couple people here that I always expect to post something negative.
I have learned to ignor them and go on to read the posts from all the nice people here. Don't let them drive you away.

Just curious where he was able to get it? This has never been publicly released before.

You can usually find it on the internet. It was released every where but the US. It's expensive though

__________________
"Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live."
-Oscar Wilde

I remember seeing Song of the South at the theater; probably in 1972 (according to the article). I had trouble understanding it as I was quite young... around 8 years old. Have you all seen it?

In regards to hurt feelings... too hope that no one leaves these boards.

Off the internet somewhere. I wasn't home when he ordered it, and have never watched it.

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Janet,

I hope that your break from the boards won't last too long; your voice is needed but sometimes a step away is needed too. For what it's worth, I felt "wow, that was harsh" when I read the post that hurt you, but I really don't think it was meant as a personal attack.

Take care,
cj/

Janet,

I'm sorry your feelings were hurt. I, too, know how it feels to be singled out, and from the looks of the responses, I think everyone here feel has actually felt the same way sometimes.

I also think that it's so difficult to convey tone of voice when we write/respond to each other on these boards - that can be a drawback. It seems like Vickie was not trying to alienate you - the way she explained it, it looks like she was aligning herself with you, and against being too PC.

Please stay with the boards!! It is so nice to have someone who dates back to the nineties here along with me, and overall this is such a colorful group of caring people. I, for one, am going to try to read and respond a lot more carefully since this happened. I'll read less into what people say that seems attacking, and more into what I say that could be hurtful to some.

I hope you stay!!

Well I didnt actually see the commercial but just LMAO while reading about it, I agree that we are getting too PC, there are many more things that I would find offensive but to make a huge fuss about some stuff is crazy!

I did not even realize that the commercial got remade. I just know that everytime that I see it I get sad and it brings a tear to my eye is all. My daughter thinks it is funny becasue she knows that I will start crying over it. (I have seen Toy Story to many times)

JANET,
After re-reading all of the posts I have to agree with Granny. I know exactly who relpies to some of my posts (and I expect it). I just laugh now. Take care.

__________________
John 14:1
GO GATORS!!
GO BEARS!!
Check out my pictures!! Just click below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gotjenks/

Hubby keeps hoping he can get a copy of this. He found one online somewhere but never ordered it.

__________________
Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

To answer the question at hand, yes, we definitely are too politically correct...We can all agree to disagree, but do it with tact...There's no need to be rude about it...Some people like Pepsi, some people like Coke...That's what makes the world go round...There are posters on here that we like, and some that we don't like...I just chose to not read the posts from some people on here who are negative and crazy...That's what the ignore button is for... ~Lisa

Thought you might like checking out some of these Politically Correct (PC) Terms:

A Criminal - unsavory character
A Crook - morally (ethically) challenged
Abortion - Near-Life Experience
Alcoholic - Anti-Sobriety Activist
Alive - temporarily metabolically abled.
An Immigrant - a newcomer
Assassination - involuntary term limitation
Bald - comb-free
Bald - folically independent
Bald - follicularly challenged.
Battle Fatigued - shellshocked
Blind - optically darker
Blind - photonically non-receptive
Blind - visually challenged
Body Odor - nondiscretionary fragrance.
Broken Down Automobile - mechanically challenged
Broken Home - Dysfunctional Family
Bum - Displaced Homeowner
Bum - Homeless Person
Bum - Involuntarily Domiciled
Cannibalism - Intra-Species Dining
Censorship - Selective Speech
Cheating - Academic Dishonesty
China - Porcelain
Chronically Late - Temporarily Challenged
Clumsy - uniquely coordinated
Commercial Fisherman - Flipper Whipper
Computer Illiterate - Technologically Challenged
Corpse - Permanently Static Post-Human Mass
Corpse / Stiff - Metabolically Challenged
Corpse / Stiff - Terminally Inconvenienced
Cowardly - Challenge Challenged
Cowboys - bovine control officers
Crackpot - certified astrological consultant, certified crystal therapist, or certified past-life regression hypnotist
Crime Rate - street activity index
Dead - Actuarially Mature
Dead - biologically challenged
Dead - environmentally correct human
Dead - living impaired
Dead - metabolically challenged
Dead - persons living with entropy
Deaf - Visually Oriented
Delicatessen - Corpse Farm
Dirty Old Man - sexually focused chronologically gifted individual
Dish Washer - utensil sanitizer
Dishonest - Ethically disoriented.
Dorm - Residence Hall
Drooling Drunk Idiot - person on floor
Drowning - aquatically challenged
Drug Addict - Chemically Challenged
Drunk - spacially perplexed
Drunk / Junkie - in recovery
Earthquake - geological correction
Fail - achieve a deficiency.
Fat - Differently Weighted
Fat - gravitationally challenged
Fat - horizontally challenged.
Fat - horizontally gifted
Fat - People of Mass
Fat - person of substance
Fictional / Mythological - ontologically challenged
Freshman - first-year student
Frog - amphibian American
Full of Crap - fecally plenary
Gang - Youth Group
Garbage Man - sanitation engineer
Gas Station Attendent - petroleum transfer technician
Geek, Nerd, whatever... - socially challenged
Ghetto / Barrio - Ethnically Homogenous Area
Hamburger - Seared Mutilated Animal Flesh
Handicapped - Differently Abled, Handi-Capable
Having PMS - cyclically challenged
Hearing Person - temporarily aurally abled
Homeless - outdoor urban dwellers
Homeless - residentially flexible
Homelessness - Mortgage-Free Living
Housebroken - Family Disfunction
Housewife - domestic engineer
Hunter - Animal Assassin
Hunter - Bambi Butcher
Hunter - Meat Mercenary
Ignorant - factually unencumbered
Ignorant - knowledge-based nonpossessor.
Incompetent - Differently Qualified
Incompetent - Specially Skilled
Incompetent - Uniquely Proficient
Insane People - Mental Explorers
Insane People - Selectively Perceptive
Insult - Emotional Rape
Janitor - sanitation engineer
Klutz - kinesthetically challenged
Large Nose - nasally gifted
Lazy - motivationally dispossessed
Lazy - motivationally deficient.
Learning Disability - Self-Paced Cognitive Ability
Library - Educational Resource Center
Logger - Wood Weasel
Logger - Paper Pirate
Logger -Treeslayer
Loser - Second Place
Loser - uniquely fortuned individual on an alternative career path
Man-hole - maintenance hole
Mankind - humankind
MANkind, HuMAN, PerSON - Earth Children
Mercy Killing - Euthanasia
Mercy Killing - Putting Down/To Sleep/Out of Misery
Messy - differently organized
Meter Maid - Parking enforcer
Midget / Dwarf - Little People
Midget / Dwarf - Vertically Challenged
Mute/Dumb - verbally challenged
Not with somebody at the moment - romantically challenged -
Off - energy-efficient
Old - chronologically gifted
Old Person / Elderly - Gerontologically Advanced
Old Person / Elderly - Senior Citizens
Panhandler - Unaffiliated applicant for private-sector funding.
Paper Bag - processed tree carcass
Perverted - Sexually dysfunctional.
Pimp-mobile / Low-rider - Culturally Responsive Transportation Option
Plagiarism - Previously Owned Prose
Po' - financially inept
Policeman, Policewoman - law inforcement officer
Poor - economically marginalized
Poor - Economically Unprepared
Poor - monetarily challenged
Postman - letter carrier
Pregnant - parasitically oppressed.
Prisoner - client of the correctional system
Prostitute - sex care provider
Psychobabble - constructivist feminist psychotherapy
Psychopath - socially misaligned
Racist - genetically discriminating
Really Big Nosed - nasally disadvantaged
Redneck - person of region
Redneck - rustically inclined
Refugees - asylum seekers
Road Kill - Vehicularly Compressed Maladapted Life Form
Rudeness - Tact Avoidance
Runny Nose - nasally gifted
Senile Bag o' Bones - Alzheimer's Victim
Serial-Killer - Person with difficult-to-meet needs.
Shoplifter - Cost-of-Living Adjustment Specialist
Short - vertically challenged
Sighted Person - temporarily visually abled
Slum - Economic Oppression Zone
Slut - suffering from a sex addiction (female)
Someone who has no other reason to park in a handicapped zone - morally handicapped
Spendthrift - negative saver.
Stained - creatively re-dyed
Steward, Stewardess - flight attendant
Stoned - Chemically inconvenienced.
Stud - suffering from a sex addiction (male)
Stupid - differently-brained
Stupid - intellectually impaired
The Elderly - Senior citizens
Thin - horizontally challenged
Thirsty - osmotically challenged
Tone Deaf - musically delayed
Too old/young - other aged
Too Tall - people of height
Tree-Hugger - environmental activist
Trees - Oxygen Exchange Units
Ugly - aesthetically challenged
Ugly - Cosmetically different.
Ugly - facially challenged
Unemployed - Involuntarily leisured.
Used Books - Recycled Books
Vagrant - Nonspecifically destinationed individual.
Vegetable - noble unconscious hero
Vice President - Post-Coronary Leader of the Free World
Vocal Minority - target equity group
Vomiting - Unplanned Reexamination of Recent Food Choices
Waiter, Waitress - food server
War-Monger - Peacekeeper, patriot
Welfare Bum - economically disadvantaged
Whaler - Blubber Lover
White - melanin-impoverished
White American - racially challenged
White Boy - rhythmically challenged
White Trash - caucasian culturally-disadvantaged
Wife - unpaid sex slave
Worst - least best.
Wrong - differently logical.
~Lisa (I didn't make these up so no flaming!)

Lisa

Girl, you are too funny......I especially enjoyed the prostitute.....well not physically LOL!!

I replied to Sandye's post even though I am addressing everyone looking for "Song of the South". I am not trying to judge anyone or anything like that, so please don't take my little piece of advice like that. My DH is a "Song of the South" fan, I, myself, do not care for it, but to each his own. I have spent several years looking for this movie on the internet, and I have found a lot of sites selling it. Every site that I have checked out are selling pirated copies. Now if this doesn't bother you, I say, go for it. I'm just trying to let everyone know before they get their hopes up what they will more than likely be getting. That being said, I could care less either way. Just for the record, we own a copy that was bought off the internet too.

P.S. My DH wanted me to post this yesterday, but I was too chicken. If anyone really wants to find out exactly how open minded they really are, I suggest renting The Aristocrats. Most people I know that say their open minded, get really upset/bothered by this DVD. My DH and I are relatively weird, and we both like the DVD.

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Don't dream it. Be it.

DH bought the movie when I was out of town, and when I came home and saw it I thought it looked "cheap". I had never even heard of it before. Well, when this post came up, I asked DH where he got it, etc. He thinks it's a pirated copy, too. I still haven't seen it. Not a big movie watcher

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I should have clarified that I was referring ti the European VHS copies that are still available but very very expensive especially if still sealed. I just figured anyone who bought the DVD knew it had been copied since there were no DVDs when it was released abroad. Sorry for the confusion

__________________
"Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live."
-Oscar Wilde

Oldandintheway,

talk about reading want you want to read, I thought you were talking about the AristoCATS, the disney cartoon.......I watched that thing last night and could not figure out what you were talking about. It didn't upset me at all....LOL

OMG...I just spit my soda all over myself....

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This space for rent

Okay, I may be screwed in the head, but last time I checked Disney movies weren't that unsettling. LOL. Don't feel bad. A friend of mine did the same thing. Several months ago, right after the Aristocrats came out on DVD, I was talking to this friend and I told her she should go rent it. She told me that she had already seen it, and I told she couldn't have seen it because it just came out. She looked at me weird, and said "Shannon have you lost your mind (and I will admit at times the answer to that is yes). I borrowed your copy and watched it." I try to tell her that I didn't own a copy of the Aristocrats. While she's trying to figure out how to get me committed, she starts describing it, this disney movie about a bunch of cats. That's when it hit me, she was talking about AristoCATS too.

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Don't dream it. Be it.

ITA. This isn't a matter of too PC -- this is a matter of joking about or making fun of suicide just isn't funny. The ad was in terrible taste.

Have you seen Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame? VERY unsettling. Too many sexual fantasy type things to let my kids see it.

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

but where do we stop?
there will always be something that will bother someone.
we were watching glenn beck show on CNN headline news a few days ago.and he said of the british: they might as well become french...I was laughing at it(I am French) .but my dh who is as american as apple pie found it offensive for me.....

mataje, how do you pronounce your screen name? I was wondering if you could sound it out phonetically for me!!!! I am reading it maddie-jay, i'm probably wrong, you know us americans always butchering the language...LOL!! OMG, that was probably too p.c. for some. ( i think I'll swoon)

But you have said it in a nutshell.......something will always bother you or somone else!! This is exactly the reason I posted this question in the first place!!

Smurf, I have not seen the Hunchback is it that bad or are you teasing? Seriously, none of us have seen it here at our house.

Yes, I have, and we apparently have two entirely different views of what is and isn't unsettling. Oh well, to each his own .

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Don't dream it. Be it.

Mrk11118:
mataje comes from my 3 kids 's name first syllable:
Ma Maeva (the e is pronounced like in electricity)
Ta (Tabitha)
je (jest-malachai)


mataje the first 2 syllables like in the first name( and the last one ,the e sounds like the a in away)..is it clear?

Thanks!!! I always wonder if I am calling everyone by what they meant in their screen names