Dear “Politically Correct Police,”

There is a reason most of the older generations are beginning to hate us, the Millennial Generation, and I think it’s time you took responsibility for your part in that. You need to stop taking everything so personally, especially things that don’t affect you. Therefore, for your benefit, (and the benefit of society as a whole), I have compiled a list of things that have precedence over the things you seem to think hold the utmost importance. I call it the, “‘Let’s Talk About It’ vs. ‘Shut Up and Sit Down’ List of Importance.” It will serve as a guideline to make society better, and might even help you live a more open-minded lifestyle.

Let’s Talk About It: Topics That Actually Matter and Deserve to Be Discussed

Racial issues (actual racism), Women’s rights (actual sexism), Gay rights (actual homophobia), Climate Change/Global Warming (actual environmental issues), Starvation, Abuse, Homelessness, Animal Rights, Politics, The Income Gap, Religious Tolerance, Immigration, Disease, War, the list goes on.

Shut Up and Sit Down: The World Does Not Revolve Around You

A comment on a YouTube video (of which you are not the subject matter/star), a “subtweet,” anything involving the Kardashians, comedy/jokes, other people’s business, a picture of a naked person (who is not you), other people having (realistic) expectations for/of you, being asked to do your job/homework, money that is not yours, defining imaginary and real illnesses (you are not qualified to decide the difference), specifying whose lives do and do not matter, someone else’s makeup or lack thereof, the outcome of the Bachelor/Bachelorette, any body part that belongs to someone else, a commercial, the cost/location/time/order of anything (that you have no control or jurisdiction over), a book, an article, the list goes on.

You may have noticed these lists end with "the list goes on," rather than ending abruptly. I explicitly mentioned things that do and do not matter. However, even the most intelligent and enjoyable person could troll this article, and explain how any topic in either respective section should be in the opposing section. Furthermore, the “Shut Up and Sit Down” portion is exceptionally longer than the “Let’s Talk About It” portion for a reason. That is not to say that if I didn’t explicitly list something, that it belongs in either respective list. There are many things that are incredibly important and that people frequently complain or argue about, that I did not mention. However, none of the issues in the “Let’s Talk About It” section directly involve or explicitly affect just one person. That section was designed to illustrate the idea that big issues, the kind that need to be discussed or argued, involve or affect a wide range of people. The second section, “Shut Up and Sit Down” was designed to show that just because something hurts your feelings, goes against your opinions, or negatively impacts your emotions, does not mean it is destroying the world or negatively impacting society.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I am not degrading the value of your opinion. However, I highly suggest you start to see the world with a more open-minded point of view. The world will not end the moment someone or something goes against what you believe. It is important to have beliefs and opinions, but your arguments should have some ground to stand on. If you argue and complain about “everything,” your arguments and opinions can begin to lose credibility in the eyes of those around you. Moreover, there is a difference between not being politically correct, and being offensive. Fueling hatred with hatred never served anyone well. Therefore, if someone or something is clearly offensive or rooted in hatred, speak up and defend yourself or those being wronged. You should not, however, hide behind a keyboard and "bully" society into treating every issue as though you have been personally victimized. Stay focused on the important issues at hand, and don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all going to be okay.

Sincerely,

A Society Done With Over-Censoring