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> why is it so hard to not be a jerk to other people? That's really the essence of "being PC". Treat others with respect. Other replies have already hit the ma

> why is it so hard to not be a jerk to other people? That's really the essence of "being PC". Treat others with respect. Other replies have already hit the main points of why this position doesn't really make sense. Mostly it comes down to "jerk" being a subjective term. However, I'd take thing a step further even. Why is it a problem if someone is a jerk? As adults shouldn't we be trivially able to disregard the aspects of someones communication we deem "jerky"? Why do we consider it reasonable to escalate hostility when someone is being (what we perceive as) a jerk? "Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me", is an objectively true statement. Any harm done by words is self inflicted. If we use the basic, nearly automatic, capacity we have to filter communication, "jerks" aren't really a problem.

s73v3r_ 9y ago
"Why is it a problem if someone is a jerk?" Why is it a problem for that jerk to simply not be a jerk? ""Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me", is an objectively true statement." It's not. "Any harm done by words is self inflicted." It's not, and this "blame the victim" mentality you're displaying is, well, quite frankly, rather jerk-ish.
- skookumchuck 9y ago
  Words lose their power over you when you stop taking offense. Remember when calling someone a "nerd" was a major insult? I do. I was called a nerd a lot in school. After I graduated, I started filling in "nerd" on forms asking my occupation. Some of my colleagues were horrified at that. But when I laughed, they started doing it, too. Now "nerd" has pretty much lost its perjorative tones, and is often a point of pride. Hypersensitivity over certain words enhances the words' power. Adopting the word destroys that power.
- neveroffensive 9y ago
  > ""Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me", is an objectively true statement." >> It's not. This is an objectively false statement. Unless the words are being uttered through a loud speaker, in which case that is a different story. You can not back your assertion with science or facts, only emotion and your own personal perception. It's your understanding, interpretation, and investment in words that causes you pain. Not the words themselves. > It's not, and this "blame the victim" mentality you're displaying is, well, quite frankly, rather jerk-ish. You're just illustrating my point. We use the term "jerk" to refer to true jerks sometimes, but often also to avoid facing hard truths. It's the same thing as calling someone a jerk for saying overweight people aren't beautiful. Edit: People hurt by words aren't victims of anything but their own weakness.

s73v3r_ 9y ago

"Why is it a problem if someone is a jerk?" Why is it a problem for that jerk to simply not be a jerk? ""Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me", is an objectively true statement." It's not. "Any harm done by words is self inflicted." It's not, and this "blame the victim" mentality you're displaying is, well, quite frankly, rather jerk-ish.

skookumchuck 9y ago
Words lose their power over you when you stop taking offense. Remember when calling someone a "nerd" was a major insult? I do. I was called a nerd a lot in school. After I graduated, I started filling in "nerd" on forms asking my occupation. Some of my colleagues were horrified at that. But when I laughed, they started doing it, too. Now "nerd" has pretty much lost its perjorative tones, and is often a point of pride. Hypersensitivity over certain words enhances the words' power. Adopting the word destroys that power.
neveroffensive 9y ago
> ""Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me", is an objectively true statement." >> It's not. This is an objectively false statement. Unless the words are being uttered through a loud speaker, in which case that is a different story. You can not back your assertion with science or facts, only emotion and your own personal perception. It's your understanding, interpretation, and investment in words that causes you pain. Not the words themselves. > It's not, and this "blame the victim" mentality you're displaying is, well, quite frankly, rather jerk-ish. You're just illustrating my point. We use the term "jerk" to refer to true jerks sometimes, but often also to avoid facing hard truths. It's the same thing as calling someone a jerk for saying overweight people aren't beautiful. Edit: People hurt by words aren't victims of anything but their own weakness.