Politically Correct Language

[5jj]

It's pretty common as a greeting by wait staff in casual restaurants here (where y'all isn't used). "How are you guys doing tonight?"

I am old-fashioned enough to cross a restaurant like that off my list. It took years for me to get used to complete strangers addressing me by my first name after two seconds' acquaintance. My stomach is not ready for 'you guys' from wait staff.

NOTE: This and the following few posts have been tranferred from another thread. I felt it better to have a fresh thread for our thoughts on PC language

[emsr2d2]

I'm not ready for them to be called "wait staff".

[SoothingDave]

I'm not ready for them to be called "wait staff".

I was going to say "waitresses" but didn't want to sound sexist!

[emsr2d2]

I still call them waiters when talking about them in general terms. I can't be doing with the PC nonsense.

[5jj]

I can't be doing with the PC nonsense.

Oh, ems. You and I are beginning to sound our age - and you still have a long way to go to catch up with me. If it wouldn't breach the rules, I'd invite you to join my branch of the Grumpy Old Men's Club. It's cozy there at this time of the year, roasting our chestnuts and toasting our toes in front of the open fire while the buxom serving wenches bring us our flagons of mulled ale to quaff.

[JarekSteliga]

I still call them waiters when talking about them in general terms. I can't be doing with the PC nonsense.

NOT A TEACHER

Unless this part of the conversation is out of bounds for learners, would you mind explaining what you meant by, "I can't be doing with the PC nonsense."? While having some vague idea what it is from the context, I do remember ever coming accross the expression, " I can't be doing with sth", nor the "PC" acronym.

[emsr2d2]

"I can't be doing with" means "I'm not interested in" or "I can't stand" or "I think ... is ridiculous" or something similar. It's hard to give an exact definition.

PC = Political Correctness.

Basically, I think the obsession with having to make sure that everyone is included in every description of everything is nonsense. I don't know a single "waitress" who is upset if the staff at the restaurant she works in happen to be referred to as "waiters".
It can become ridiculous. For example, the metal cover over a hole in the road leading to the sewers in the UK is called a "manhole cover". Apparently, some people thought that was sexist and suggested that we all call it a "personhole cover". Absolutely ridiculous.

[SoothingDave]

PC is "political correctness," the careful use of language of as to avoid offending others, particularly minorities.

To avoid offense, we don't say "fireman" we say "firefighter." We don't say "deaf," we say "hearing impaired."

The "proper" names for racial minorities seem to be constantly changing.

[SoothingDave]

"I can't be doing with" means "I'm not interested in" or "I can't stand" or "I think ... is ridiculous" or something similar. It's hard to give an exact definition.

PC = Political Correctness.

Basically, I think the obsession with having to make sure that everyone is included in every description of everything is nonsense. I don't know a single "waitress" who is upset if the staff at the restaurant she works in happen to be referred to as "waiters".
It can become ridiculous. For example, the metal cover over a hole in the road leading to the sewers in the UK is called a "manhole cover". Apparently, some people thought that was sexist and suggested that we all call it a "personhole cover". Absolutely ridiculous.

"Waitress" causes a dilemma, as we saw above. If I say "waitresses" in general because a lot of women do do this profession, I am stereotyping. If I say "waiters" in general, then I could be thought of as somehow excluding women. So we invent these neutered terms, like "wait staff."

[JarekSteliga]

"

PC = Political Correctness.

Basically, I think the obsession with having to make sure that everyone is included in every description of everything is nonsense. I don't know a single "waitress" who is upset if the staff at the restaurant she works in happen to be referred to as "waiters".
It can become ridiculous. For example, the metal cover over a hole in the road leading to the sewers in the UK is called a "manhole cover". Apparently, some people thought that was sexist and suggested that we all call it a "personhole cover". Absolutely ridiculous.

If any consolation, the same thing goes on in my language. Lawyers become lawyeresses and so on. Looks like in some instances PC could just as well stand for "pretty crazy".