PC Gone Mad

We live in a weird time Don't you think? I mean, when else in history was it considered insulting to call something what it is? That's just what's expected of us. About so many things. And its become ridiculous. There are all sorts of people, all sorts of conditions, in this world. There are blind, deaf, mute, lame people in this world. There are the sick, the poor, the thin, the fat, the tall, the short, the old, the young. . . and on and on. Yet its become 'politically incorrect' to speak, for example, of a blind person being 'blind' - they are 'visually impaired'. . . (Even as I type this, I feel a little uncomfortable with what I'm saying. To such a degree have I also been affected by this!)

If I am short, people have to call me 'vertically challenged' - does that make me feel less short?

If I am old, does being called 'chronologically advanced' make me feel less aged?

Is being called a 'person of mass' easier to swallow for a fat person?

They talk about not wanting to label people. How is it that 'short' is a label and 'vertically challenged' is not?

Its even more deliacte when we talk about skin colour, isn't it? I am not insulted if someone calls me white. That is my colour. But today, it is regarded as racist to call an African or African-American, black. Why? Black is not inferior. Why should it be regarded as an insult? And in whom does the belief that it is insulting lie? (I am not, of course, talking about any terminolgy used that is MEANT to be insulting) I am part of a neighbourhood watch - a very good one - that does its best to observe all these tortuous terms. It borders on the ridiculous sometimes, to hear people on the 2-way radios trying to give descriptions of suspects without saying their actual colour, build, age etc. You try describing someone well enough to help a third party spot them without being able to 'tell it like it is' Good luck with that. This scenario reminds me of the children's tale called "The Emperor's Clothes" - anyone remember it? In the story the problem was ludicrously obvious to everyone but everyone 'played the game' not wanting to be out of step: it took the simplicity of a child to point out the reality of the situation. I wish someone 'up there' would let us get back to reality. Now I am 'heat impaired' so I'm off to make coffee . . . PS: Feel free to disagree with me on the above. These are just my views. Obviously.