"Politically Incorrect"

I hate the way that the phrase "politically incorrect" gets misused.  And "politically correct" as well, for that matter.

Being politically correct, or at least trying to be, can sound a little silly at times.  Maybe it's even downright ridiculous sometimes because of the verbal gymnastics involved.  But it also tends to come from an intention of not being offensive or hurtful; it's usually a well-meaning attempt to speak of people whose experiences may not be familiar to the speaker in a way that isn't dismissive or insulting.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  But the point is, there's at least an attempt to be respectful and polite.

Which brings me to political incorrectness.

Seriously, how have we gotten to the point where being rude is actually preferred?  When people use the phrase "politically incorrect" to describe something that they are about to say or do, it's usually a short form for "I'm going to be an asshole and because I've used this phrase you can't stop me or you will face my scorn for being a weak and wishy-washy politically correct bleeding-heart liberal."  We praise people who call themselves politically incorrect for their honesty and forthrightness.  We applaud them for being blunt.  We admire them for doing what they do, when all they're really doing is being intentionally offensive and hurtful, and being proud of how much hurt they cause, often while making themselves look like total boneheads in the process.

Being a hateful and small-minded jerk isn't something to be proud of.  Or at least it shouldn't be.  As far as I'm concerned, most people who call themselves politically incorrect should just knock it off.

Not that they will, of course.

That would just be too "politically correct" for them to stomach.