Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Systems of Politesse

Systems of Politesse

 

The trouble with PC is that it’s a system of politesse, and like all such systems, it is a stupid, absurd, arbitrary, hypocritical imposition by clueless self-righteous elites. (I call that observation the “Brat’s Whinge”.) But on the other hand, some such system, however stupid and hypocritical, is necessary for the survival of civilized manners. (I call that observation the “Geezer’s Wheeze”.)

Both Brat’s Whinge and Geezer’s Wheeze are correct. And really people don’t mind doing the idiotic humility rituals, as long as those rituals don’t waste too much time, and don’t change too much from year to year. But people hate to memorize a list of new taboos.

Pro tip: Never insult anyone who counts. And they get to say what’s insulting. But who counts changes with the circulation of aristocracies. 

1 comment:

  1. Corollary: many people feel or affect to feel insulted at insults aimed at others. (The people being apparently insulted and the "counting" people feeling offended are not always the same.)

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