WHEN is a chairman not a chairman? When he's a she and is a chairwoman, a chairperson, or even just a chair.

Is political correctness an absurd blight on modern society? Or necessary nit-picking to consign damaging stereotypes and traditions to the history bin?

It is easy to ridicule political correctness. People are "vertically challenged", not short, Blackboards are "chalkboards", and Baa Baa Blacksheep could be taken as racist.

Across Government and business, many organisations fear being branded irresponsible, and so society is led into a quagmire of rules, regulations and equal opportunities. But wouldn't a dose of common sense stop inappropriate or discriminatory situations arising?

Last week, Wyre Forest District Council found itself in the national news after consultants apparently advised new members that phrases like 'ship-shape and Bristol fashion', and 'nitty-gritty', should be buried, as they might offend black people. They were references coined in slave trade days and therefore, derogatory.

Despite council leader Stephen Clee's reassurances that he had no intention of removing the words from his administration's vocabulary, the story still raised eyebrows and made it onto the front page of one right-leaning national paper.

David Clark, a Worcester City Councillor, also thinks political correctness has over-stretched itself. For him, agencies and bodies devote too much time and effort to political correctness.

"For heaven's sake let's have some common sense and let people say what they really mean," he said, yesterday. "It is such a waste of time and effort, and there are so many cases of political correctness gone mad.

"For instance, on job applications - if I understand rightly - employers are not allowed to specify the sex or what age group they are looking for.

"Some positions necessarily demand someone be of a certain sex, or certain age range - but on the forms it doesn't say that because of political correctness.

"All the people who apply, but don't match those criteria will have spent time and effort, got their hopes up, and they will be discounted out of hand. I mean, how stupid."

"Another thing which annoys me is when people have been employed because of their sex, colour or creed just to get the mix right and not on merit."

Coun Clark's views chime with those of the Campaign Against Political Correctness.

"People are being pushed too far. We are respectful of the rights and responsibilities of minorities, but political correctness has gone too far, and people now feel the balance is wrong," said CAPC co-founder John Midgley.

On his website, www.capc.co.uk there is a list of incident which he thinks are symptomatic of the "way we are going in this country.

"There are people within ethnic minorities who feel that political correctness is patronising them," he added.

Last year, Dan Wicksteed drafted a plan to stop prayers before Worcestershire County Council meetings on the grounds they were outdated, and Christian prayers were not suitable for a multi-faith organisation. There was fury from people who wanted the prayer to continue.

Former County Councillor Tom Wareing, said it was part of a plot by people and organisations trying to undermine Christianity.

"Political correctness has gone barmy," he said. "Dan allowed himself be motivated by people that have a long-term objective to try and undermine Judaeo-Christian principles.

"It was significant that the city council mayor at the time, Allah Ditta - a Muslim - made his views known by inviting a Christian minister to conduct prayers."

But Jed King, a resident of Crowle, supported Mr Wicksteed's move, which was, in the end, dropped. Mr King is one of many who believes political correctness helps make society more equal, more tolerant and more thoughtful.

"I believe we should live in a completely secular state, where everybody - especially those without a faith - should be allowed to work without having to listen to prayers." But like a lot of people he felt political correctness could go too far.

"There are extremes which are absurd - for example not being allowed to refer to a blackboard in school is nonsensical, as are not using certain nursery rhymes because there might be one or two words someone might find offensive."

Studying for a masters degree in Sociology and Sport, Dan Head, said political correctness had helped level the playing field for women and ethnic minorities.

"It could be argued that political correctness has actually been of benefit to society in terms of developing a level playing field for women and ethnic minorities in this country.

"Political correctness started back in the 1980s, in an attempt to control expressions and behaviour that has caused 'upset' for certain sections of society.

"Britain seems to promote democracy, as we can see from its multi-racial population. But it wasn't so long ago that women had to fight for the right to vote in the country.

"Was this PC being taken too far? If one person has a view, there is always a conflicting view elsewhere," said the 29-year-old.

PC's barmiest bans

In the early 90s, some schools became uneasy about holding sports days, because losing races could be "bad for children's self-esteem". Problem-Solving Days were suggested as an alternative.

In 1997, Gloucester City Council banned the phrase "accident blackspot" because it was thought to be racist.

Instead, they had to be accident "hotspots."

In 1998, Birmingham City Council used the word "Winterval" to describe the festive programme of activities planned through the Christmas period, so people of all religions would feel included.

Last year, a West Yorkshire Primary School removed books which featured pigs for fear of upsetting young Muslim pupils.

Equal opportunities consultants told Wyre Forest councillors that they should avoid using the phrase "ship-shape and Bristol fashion" because it was coined during Bristol's slave trading hey day.

BUT many examples of "political correctness" were only ever urban myths, beloved of the right wing press. The rhyme "Ba Ba White Sheep" never really took off in nursery school, and supermarkets still sell Hot Cross Buns.