[vog]

I see PC as a way to spread and to communicate empathy: Using words and phrases that don't paint a false picture of reality (and don't trigger prejudices) is IMHO a good start to get to talk with people more openly.

Of course, PC only works if you are doing it on your own, not if you impose it on the people you are trying to convince.

[ticviking]

The flaw in the politically correct approach is often that it fails to empathize with those who don't yet empathize. And often resorts to shaming when it is unable to create the empathy needed to create action.

[klodolph]

That's not really a criticism of political correctness, that's a criticism of one of the ways political correctness can be enforced.

But it's a bit weird to equate empathy for a condition beyond one's control with empathy for people who don't choose to use empathetic language.

I've been in a few classes or workshops where the instructors have taught people how to correct insensitive speech. It's something that can be done well.

[vog]

I hope I did so in my first comment (criticism are welcome in case I failed): I introduced the term "barrierefrei" and explained why I prefer that term over the other popular alternative.

[nugator]

Can you please give some examples on how to correct insensitive speech well?

[klodolph]

I did some web searches and found a document that has techniques in it that I've seen work well:

http://www.dianegoodman.com/documents/RespondingToBiasedOrOf...

Personal anecdote: I was playing a game in college with some other students. One was periodically bragging about some particular sexual exploit in a roundabout way. I think he was looking for validation, but when he didn't get it, he tried again. I said something along the lines of, "That comment isn't acceptable and if you keep saying things like that I'm not going to play with you." It was definitely confrontational, it drew a line in the sand, and I didn't hear him say inappropriate comments for the months that we played together.

Half the struggle here is just deciding that someone else's behavior isn't acceptable and that you want to do something about it.