Let’s talk: are we too politically correct?

Earlier this week a social media campaign to cast a woman to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond went viral as thousands of people around the world threw their support behind the cause.

People complained the role had been played by a man for too long and that a woman was just as capable of playing the suave and deadly spy.

“It’s gender inequality!” they shouted, “anything a man can do, a women can do too”.

The campaign was just the latest in a long line of issues around political correctness that have popped up over the past few years.

Golliwogs have been banned from toy stores as they are now believed to incite racism, Santa Clauses in Sydney’s Westfields have been banned from say ‘ho ho ho’ as it sounds too much like ‘hoe’ – a derogatory name for a woman, and some schools won’t allow kids to play musical chairs because it apparently encourages bullying.

So what is going on in the world? When did we all get so sensitive that we have to be extra careful about what we do and say so we don’t accidentally offend someone?

While it was definitely time for certain things to change in the world, some say the concept of political correctness has gone too far.

Many have pointed out that women faced all sorts of inequality and their whole lives managed to carry on without kicking up the fuss people do these days.

“I worked in an office full of men during the 70s and put up with all kinds of behaviour that would be considered politically incorrect these days,” wrote one woman on Facebook.

“I just carried on and did my job though. I don’t see why everyone has to complain and whinge so much about every perceived slight these days.”

Others say the changes are long overdue, but do we really need to change the name of the classic English dessert Spotted Dick to Spotted Richard – as they did in the UK after concerns it would offend people?

And did a school in America really have to go so far as changing the name of Easter eggs to ‘spring spheres’ to avoid causing offence to people who did not celebrate Easter?

What’s your opinion on this issue?

Are we too politically incorrect? Or, is it better to be careful and avoid offending anyone?