John Cleese, the English actor, and comedian of Monty Python fame has a theory on why political correctness is getting out of hand. Jon Miltimore published this theory on Intellectual Takeout.
Political Correctness Killing Comedy
He’s hardly the first comedian to say so, of course. Funny men such as Jerry Seinfeld, Mel Brooks, and others have complained that political correctness is killing comedy. Cleese, like Seinfeld, says he no longer performs on America’s college campuses, where political correctness enforcement is particularly strident.
In a recent monologue with Big Think, Cleese said the effort to protect people from negative feelings is not just impractical, but suffocating to a free society.
“The idea that you have to be protected from any kind of uncomfortable emotion is one I absolutely do not subscribe to,” Cleese says.
Cleese, who spoke to psychiatrist Robin Skynner about the phenomenon, posited an interesting theory on why many people feel compelled to control the language and behaviors of others.
“If people can’t control their own emotions, then they have to start trying to control other people’s behavior,” Cleese says.
You can watch the entire monologue below. What do you make of Cleese’s theory? Is he right?
I agree political correctness is getting way out of hand in our culture, and not just comedians are noticing.
Political Correctness in Sports
For example, it is ridiculous that in our children’s sporting events everyone gets the same award, just for participating. No winners and no losers allowed; treat everyone the same. Competition is healthy. It should not be discouraged, especially if a child shows interest in an activity. Kids need to learn that people will be better than others in all of their endeavours. This includes sports, scholastic abilities, job skills, and any other activity. You excel at some, others not so much. You learn to win graciously and accept defeat just as graciously. That is a healthy skill that all kids need to learn.
My three sons were (are) very athletic and good at any sport they chose to play. Were/are they the best? No, but they learned to recognize and respect those that were/are better, more successful than they were/are. This is an important life lesson and important for developing self-esteem. Sadly, it appears that this valuable lesson is low on the priority list these days.
Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide
It is no small wonder that more teens today suffer from anxiety and depression than ever before. Teen suicide too is rampant, doesn’t it make you wonder if there is a connection to our current excessive demand for political correctness and the rise of anxiety and depression?
Suicide Prevention Hotline (USA and CANADA)
1-800 273 8255
It’s OK not to be OK
Political Correctness ruins relationships. ❤
“If people can’t control their own emotions, then they have to start trying to control other people’s behavior.” That is the essence of a coward, one who is also a bully. But eventually the coward must take on force. Control is the pivot of power. One way to exercise the demons of feeling you have no power is make the other bullies look stupid and uncivilized. This did not work throughout much of civilization because the other bullies had weapons, religion, government control, cultural domination and the inculcation of the masses. Now, we see a reversal of roles in some Western societies, and every politically correct bully who wins takes on the cloak of the oppressor. Only they don’t fully understand that most common people do not agree with them. Therefore, the story is far from over. Who knows, we might all be surprised with rationality and decency taking hold……but I am still holding my breath about that one.