Political correctness?

Dh and I were having a discussion last night about how we think that some people have taken political correctness to an extreme. This led into TV show examples. Like would 'All In the Family' be allowed on network tv or even 'Dukes of Hazzard'?

Just thought I'd get other opinions.

I can't imagine 'All in the Family' doing well in today's culture....I dont' know if it's becasue of too much political correctness, or if it's just becasue we live in a different world now....

Look at what happened to Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect show.....

holy cannoli.

I've never seen either show (I've heard about them, but never watched either of them)

I think All in the Family was a great show, but even misunderstood a great deal when it was on prime time. I definitely don't think it would be allowed on network TV now. I think it is a shame, because I think some of those types of shows tackled difficult issues at the time and started discussions between people. I don't really see that happening with shows that are on now.

I think it is good to be tolerant of others, but politcal correctness often covers up real societal problems by making people afraid to discuss them.

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Posted by dpli


but politcal correctness often covers up real societal problems by making people afraid to discuss them.

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Interesting thought...

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Posted by dpli

I think it is good to be tolerant of others, but politcal correctness often covers up real societal problems by making people afraid to discuss them.

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Exactly!!! I just worry what is going to happen if we continue to ignore certain social issues under the guise of being 'PC'.

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Posted by heidla



Exactly!!! I just worry what is going to happen if we continue to ignore certain social issues under the guise of being 'PC'.

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Can you be more specific or give an example of what one of your concerns is.

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Posted by BMD'sPeanut

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Posted by heidla



Exactly!!! I just worry what is going to happen if we continue to ignore certain social issues under the guise of being 'PC'.

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Can you be more specific or give an example of what one of your concerns is.

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I guess it is just a general concern.It seems that in the 70's television openly tried to tackle issues such as race relations, sexism and homosexuality. Unfortunately, the largest source of media is now shying away from such issues and playing it safe. I just see that trend seeping from the tv into everyday life.

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Posted by heidla

I guess it is just a general concern.It seems that in the 70's television openly tried to tackle issues such as race relations, sexism and homosexuality. Unfortunately, the largest source of media is now shying away from such issues and playing it safe. I just see that trend seeping from the tv into everyday life.

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You think those things (in the 70's) were done with intent to 'tackle issues' as opposed to just being a regular part of society of the times?

This is a small example, that isn't a major societal problem, but something I can think of off the top of my head. My friend and I were talking about those magnetic ribbons that everyone has on the back of their cars now. I do not have one, and I often wonder how much of the money that is being made off of these things, especially the 'support our troops' type is actually helping people. I think that many individuals are profiting from things like this and it really bothers me. I am in favor of memorials and fundraising efforts for good causes, but I think people are duped into feeling like they are not partiotic if they don't particiapte in these things, when the $ might really just be going to some guy who is raking it in.

I don't discuss this with too many people, because it just seems like too hot a topic for some people. The discussion becomes emotional very quickly at times and my thoughts on the matter are misunderstood, so to be 'PC' I usually choose not to talk about this.

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Posted by BMD'sPeanut

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Posted by heidla

I guess it is just a general concern.It seems that in the 70's television openly tried to tackle issues such as race relations, sexism and homosexuality. Unfortunately, the largest source of media is now shying away from such issues and playing it safe. I just see that trend seeping from the tv into everyday life.

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You think those things (in the 70's) were done with intent to 'tackle issues' as opposed to just being a regular part of society of the times?

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I think so. All in the Family dealt with a lot of stuff - race relations, the Vietnam war, the ERA, etc. Many of the other shows, did too.

My example was sort of a lame one, but I think most of the things people are PC about are race relations, alternative lifestyles and socioeconomic problems

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Posted by dpli

This is a small example, that isn't a major societal problem, but something I can think of off the top of my head. My friend and I were talking about those magnetic ribbons that everyone has on the back of their cars now. I do not have one, and I often wonder how much of the money that is being made off of these things, especially the 'support our troops' type is actually helping people. I think that many individuals are profiting from things like this and it really bothers me. I am in favor of memorials and fundraising efforts for good causes, but I think people are duped into feeling like they are not partiotic if they don't particiapte in these things, when the $ might really just be going to some guy who is raking it in.

I don't discuss this with too many people, because it just seems like too hot a topic for some people. The discussion becomes emotional very quickly at times and my thoughts on the matter are misunderstood, so to be 'PC' I usually choose not to talk about this.

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I totally agree!
i just had to comment on the magnetic ribbons.....yesterday I saw one that was soccer-themed.....which really annoyed me because it loses the whole meaning of the ribbon when they start to create them for hobbies.....
I hate when people start to be patriotic (or anything else) because it is the current trend

As a student of TV Production as an undergraduate I did a unit study on Norman Lear sitcoms.

'All in the Family' began in the early 70s with a disclaimer right before the first episode aired. It was controversial then and it would be now. Yes Archie Bunker may have been seen as politically incorrect, and if you took the show at face value then most people today would be picketing and calling up the TV station protesting. This show did what no other show before it did - it showed ignorance at its best and how to learn from it. My favorite episode was when Archie received a blood transfusion from an African-American female doctor and was convinced that he would turn black as a result. The whole idea of that is ludicrous but they were trying to make a point. Thepoint, in my opinion, was well-received.

'The Jeffersons' and 'Maude' were also Lear productions that discussed many issues still relevant today but unspoken in the 70s such as interracial relationships and abortion.

I think all of those shows were way ahead of their time and well done.

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Posted by Goldi1021

As a student of TV Production as an undergraduate I did a unit study on Norman Lear sitcoms.

'I think all of those shows were way ahead of their time and well done.

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I was trying to think of Norman Lear's name earlier! I thought all of his shows were well done too!

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Posted by dpli

[
I think so. All in the Family dealt with a lot of stuff - race relations, the Vietnam war, the ERA, etc. Many of the other shows, did too.

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Interesting...I don't think I ever thought that those shows were done with specific intent--almost sort of poking fun at the way things were....But rather just a reflection of the times...it makes sense now...

If those things were done intentionally, then there should be no reason nowadays not to have equally non-PC shows on t.v. (Hope I'm making sense. Not feeling very articulate this afternoon.)

Note: I don't think your other posting was lame.

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Posted by BMD'sPeanut

You think those things (in the 70's) were done with intent to 'tackle issues' as opposed to just being a regular part of society of the times?

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Yes, I feel that they were trying to tackle issues of the time. Shows such as 'All in the Family', 'Soap' and 'MASH' pushed the envelope of what was socially excepted to discuss in public. We are missing shows like this on network television today because we have regressed to a place where we don't feel comfortable putting it out there.

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Posted by heidla

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Posted by BMD'sPeanut

You think those things (in the 70's) were done with intent to 'tackle issues' as opposed to just being a regular part of society of the times?

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Yes, I feel that they were trying to tackle issues of the time. Shows such as 'All in the Family', 'Soap' and 'MASH' pushed the envelope of what was socially excepted to discuss in public. We are missing shows like this on network television today because we have regressed to a place where we don't feel comfortable putting it out there.

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I think you are completely right, and it's a shame. But if shows like that were made today, people would protest and boycott sponsors.

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Posted by heidla

Dh and I were having a discussion last night about how we think that some people have taken political correctness to an extreme. This led into TV show examples. Like would 'All In the Family' be allowed on network tv or even 'Dukes of Hazzard'?

Just thought I'd get other opinions.

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I really think that people are way more sensitive in today's society, and those shows would not have been widely accepted.

They show 'All in the Family' reruns on TV now.

Also, why do they have such violent shows on network television? CSI, 24…etc. those shows have SO much violence!