BRAINTENANCE: THE PARADOX OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

Thursday, September 24, 2009

BRAINTENANCE: THE PARADOX OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

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This is a specially revamped version of an article posted on one of my other blogs for the purposes of creating a Braintenance
exercise at http://Braintenance.blogspot.com . In the context of this particular exercise, the issue is not really "Political Correctness". It is presented as an exercise in visualizing outcomes based upon trends at their outset. One of the greatest skills that an individual can possess is the ability to project what the future will look like (the effect) if a certain current trend (the cause) is permitted to continue unchecked and without deviation. The ability and willingness to act upon that knowledge to either 1) change the trend (by modifying its trajectory in some manner) or to 2) positively exploit the anticipated outcome are ultimately just as important. Unapplied knowledge is a terrible and potentially damaging waste. What good is having an intellectual tool which we do not put to use? If we look up at the window seven floors above us and see a flower pot (usually filled with geraniums) teetering on the ledge, we would be foolish not to move from its anticipated path and avoid a terrible headache.

I will confess that I am no longer a proponent of Political Correctness, for reasons which are enumerated in the article, which is a bit sardonic in its tone.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
- by Douglas Castle (http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/) , who is a proud Featured Columnist on THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. Receive a free subscription at http://twitlik.com/OK

I cannot say enough about political correctness. Were I to do that, I would be, in fact, "politically incorrect." It is actually politically incorrect to critically discuss the notion of political correctness.

Here are my observations about the notion and practice of political correctness:

1.     You must be a subjectivist in every aspect. There are no measurable standards of quality. One thing is never better than another...they are always equally valuable, equally good, and merely "different," which is wonderful because it supports the notions of celebrating diversity (I fulfill my obligations here by going to the local 7 - 11, filling up at the local gas station, phoning the Dell computer service hotline, and mismatching my shoes) and of being totally nonjudgmental. If you have an opinion or an objection, you are being judgmental. I have, on many occasions judged things -- but now I think that this could be corrected with the proper dose of Soma, longer hours of watching reality TV and a quickie prefrontal lobotomy.

2.     You must go out of your way not to excel in any form or fashion, because that could create a feeling of reduced self-esteem in someone else.

3.     You can never answer a question, except with an inert, innocuous, response like any of the ones listed below:

That's an excellent question!
That's certainly something to think about!
My goodness! (also nod your head up and down)
Could you please repeat that question?
Wow. I wonder what our studio audience (or callers) will want to say about that?

I've tested them all, and they all work.

3.     Never describe anything. Adjectives are perception-based, and will take you into dangerous political territory.

4.     Embrace mediocrity, accept all explanations, and eliminate expectations, standards and goals.

5.     Grin, dress nicely, wear plastic wristbands (and pins about all manner of disease eradication and environmental or ecological preservation), and look up the meaning (before all the books are burned) of the term "Lowest Common Denominator."

I am thinking about writing a song to be titled "Living in the LCD". Your ideas are welcome.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

p.s. I believe that I'm getting the hang of it...I've just noticed that I'm drooling!