[Artemisia] political correctness - response - read only if you care

[Bruce Padget]

I have little opinion on what we call the weapons with which children 
fight.  (Tho it seems that "sword" is a pretty good word for a sword.) 
However, in the course of this discussion, responses have gone well 
beyond that topic.  For example:

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:18, rayzentz at aim.com wrote:

> Political correctness has nothing to to with being polite or courteous 
> to one another.
>
> Political correctness has everything to do with not offending anyone.
>
> Those are two very different things.

I have long been learning (and teaching anyone I can get to listen) that 
courtesy, particular in a period sense, goes well beyond a bland 
politeness, giving offense to no one.

However, I am unfamiliar with any system of etiquette, historic or 
modern, that does not include "avoid giving offense," among its tenets.  
I would delight in hearing more such of an etiquette, particularly a 
period one.

> I operate (and have always done so, and always will do so) under the 
> premise that you cannot offend me.   I can only TAKE offense if I 
> CHOOSEto do so.   I also operate on the corrollary of that premise... 
> namely, that I cannot offend you, you can only CHOOSE to take offense.
>
> Thus, trying to not offend someone is a useless exercise, because you 
> cannot offend them in the first place.   They can choose to be offended 
> by you, if they so desire, and your use of language ultimately has very 
> little to do with it.   If someone wants to find offense with me, they 
> can.   I frankly do not care.

Many words on a public list for one who "frankly do[es] not care" what 
we think.

Or is it that your lack of care only applies if I take offense?  If I 
choose to be pleased by your words, do you take credit for that?  Do you 
accept applause from an audience?  After all, would not their pleasure 
likewise be a choice?

It has been said here that avoiding all offense is impossible.  In arts 
of war and of peace, impossibility of perfection drives many of us.  I 
like to see etiquette as an art.

Of course, my care in choosing my words has left me poor of speech, as 
all have seen.

Regards,
Niccolo

Who tries to choose his words with care, accepts credit, and takes 
blame.