Political correctness was, without doubt, a well intentioned idea. It was supposed to encourage bigots to avoid speech that was offensive to minority groups. In the process it signaled that stereotyping was frowned upon. That was a laudable goal.
However, it seems to have had two unintended consequences. First, because banned terms are, almost axiomatically, offensive only to minorities, it afford the majority the opportunity to ridicule the construct of PC, as the majority might consider the particular language inoffensive.
Second, it has sensitized people in minority groups who might not otherwise have considered some language offensive to now be on the lookout for its use, and be offended - because they've been told it is - when they hear it.
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