Dear Mandarin speakers, please change your filler word from "this" to "that". Your language is offensive.

This is my problem with the practical aspects of the PC movement. In its theoretical essence, it is trying to offer a solution to micro-fascisms of daily life and institutionalised discrimination.

But in practice, as it is almost near impossible to explain, to every individual, the power and discourse relations, and the impact of language, PC advocates generally find the solution by reaching to the lowest common denominator by banishing the use of value loaded words.

It is an admirable effort that has great intentions. But it misses the point. What is important is to explain everyone what discourse is, how reality is socially constructed etc.. Otherwise, simply banishing the use of words is no more than creating a new layer of micro-fascism.