In the old days at least, it is safe to say, people were even less sensitive to such issues than we are today. The word dexterous, for example, means originally quick and nimble, skilful with the right hand, dexter being originally from Latin (meaning on the right hand). Today, however, if you say someone is dexterous, people understand that he is good with his hands, both left and right (I have said earlier that Davis might be “dexterous with both hands.” That’s me, trying to keep to the right, oops, I mean, safe side).

Anyways, in this day and age, it is prudent to be sensitive to minorities, be it a matter of race, gender, physical shortcomings or whatever.

Alright, media examples:

1. Right-hand man, gentleman’s agreement and whiter than white are the latest phrases to fall foul of the political correctness lobby.

Government quangos have issued fresh lists of phrases they are seeking to ban to avoid causing offence.

Staff at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission have been advised to use “miserable day” instead of “black day”. The Commission claims that certain words carry a “hierarchical valuation of skin colour”.

It also cautions that the term ethnic minority can imply “something smaller and less important” and should be used with care.

The examples of political correctness emerged in answer to a series of Freedom of Information requests.

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