Wokeness? Meaning?

[grassisjeweled]

Can someone explain in simple English what 'wokeness' means?

This is going around in circles a bit now.

Caring about racism doesn’t mean you are woke. Woke is a way of approaching social issues.

What I can't understand, is the term actually derogatory or is it derogratory because of how people use it iyswim.

For example, the word 'fashionable' isn't really a controverisal word. Is it like this?

It's so unclear, I mean let's just talk about the issues.

Woke is a way of approaching social issues

OK, that makes more sense if so

Some don't seem to use it to mean that though, seems a word open to interpretation lol

I know right?

It depends on the group you're in.

It's used as a derogatory word for everyone except within the black community in general. They started using woke as a good thing to be but it became bastardised by both extremists in the community and detractors of the community.

Same as feminism. Being a feminist can be seen as a terrible thing in some communities and is used in a derogatory sense elsewhere but the feminism community.

I agree it's open to interpretation, just like all the other words in use - people like to sling words about and often use it for their own gain even when it wasn't meant to be originally. Interesting world we live in.

@Raceless

I know right?

It depends on the group you're in.

It's used as a derogatory word for everyone except within the black community in general. They started using woke as a good thing to be but it became bastardised by both extremists in the community and detractors of the community.

Same as feminism. Being a feminist can be seen as a terrible thing in some communities and is used in a derogatory sense elsewhere but the feminism community.

This post was in response to chocsaway2

@Quaagars

Heaven forbid there were millions of people in the world who manage to care about issues that are important to them,

Of course there's nothing wrong with caring about issues that are important to them.
Just because I'm white though, I shouldn't care about racism (if I do I get a new woke cookie?)
Just because I'm straight, doesn't mean I shouldn't learn about LGBT issues and rights?
Should just stay in my lane?
Nice world (not) if we can only all just care about ourselves and no-one else.

You are completely missing the point (and proving the one of Wokeness).

Being aware and continuously educating ourselves on social issues is a not 'woke'. It's when a minority decided they have completely understood the issue, or belive their one and only point of view is utterly correct and start shutting down any other discussion (usually with insults rather than with balanced facts), that it becomes 'wokeness'. Especially those who call themselves 'allies'. I've found they are the sort of people who cause and spread the most amount of misinformation, coming froma place of wanting to be 'so right on' and ultra Liberal that they start going down a rabbit hole of nonsense.

OnlyLivingBoy thanks, I've not seen that video.

What he described is precisely what so many posters do when criticising others in particular on the FWR board. Just reply with a judgment (wrong side of history,not a good look etc). Never any attempt to show they can see why others are concerned or attempt to show empathy. Just judging.

It's a word used by twats because they can't stand being called out for bigotry. It's a useful indicator you are discussing something with an idiot.

See also "PC gone mad".

It's a word used by twats because they can't stand being called out for bigotry. It's a useful indicator you are discussing something with an idiot. See also "PC gone mad"

Yes, definitely seen it used lots in this context too!
Seems there's lots of different interpretations just on these 4 pages lol
I'm going for this one and also pp's Woke is a way of approaching social issues

@BoingBoingyBoing

It's a word used by twats because they can't stand being called out for bigotry. It's a useful indicator you are discussing something with an idiot.

See also "PC gone mad".

PC gone mad is a ridiculous phrase, used by people who still want to make racist and misogynistic jokes without beibg called out on it.

The word 'bigoted' is interesting here though. That is often used to shut down conversation of sex based rights at the moment, and shutting down discussion with heavy implications that the person with concerns are prejudice rather than being factual is precisely the issue of Wokeness.

Of course there's nothing wrong with caring about issues that are important to them.
Just because I'm white though, I shouldn't care about racism (if I do I get a new woke cookie?)
*Just because I'm straight, doesn't mean I shouldn't learn about LGBT issues and rights?
Should just stay in my lane?
Nice world (not) if we can only all just care about ourselves and no-one else.

Caring about issues that are IMPORTANT to them does not equal only caring about issues thay AFFECT them.

And people wonder why the woke brigade gets laughed at.

It's a word used by twats because they can't stand being called out for bigotry. It's a useful indicator you are discussing something with an idiot
Another example of stunning wokery.

If you don't agree with us you're a bigot.
If you challenge us then you're a bigot.
After all the woke have all the right thoughts.

It's hilarious how people who claim to be tolerant and oh so liberal seem to have such a strong desire to stifle debate and call anyone not in their bubble a bigot.

Attributing all social, political and economic interactions and outcomes to racial identity rather than individual attributes.

@SarahBellam

It means giving a shit about something other than yourself.

No. It means posturing that you give a shit about something other than yourself for social media likes, whilst actually being a shallow narcissist who isn't capable or independent thought.

In its extreme form it is blindly following whatever dubious race and gender theories being churned out of the humanities departments of some universities. It is when you believe ideology starts to trump peer reviewed evidence because it does not suit your narrative. It is demanding punitive punishment for 'wrong think' that sees people lose jobs or being hounded off socia media. Being aware to current or historical injustices is one thing, rewriting history and demanding compliance to your school of thought is quite another.

@Quaagars

Spoken like a true wokester Yay

Aka. We're right and everyone else is wrong
How is racism (which is the example I gave in my posts) NOT wrong?
OK, people are perfectly entitled to be racist but it doesn't and won't ever make it right, even the most racist think they are.
Why am I apparently only pretending to give a shit if I say no?
(Which a poster upthread said)

So you have to be woke to not be racist or not condone it. No, you just have to be rational. It’s this moral superiority and self righteousness that has turned wokeness into a joke.

No. It means posturing that you give a shit about something other than yourself for social media likes

Maybe, just maybe, it's sometimes that you couldn't care less about social media likes and how much you do or don't get, but you see rampant bigotry and want to speak up against it?
I know I couldn't give a toss if I got any likes or not if I saw for example a racist comment and questioned it.

whilst actually being a shallow narcissist who isn't capable or independent thought
Not sure where independent thought comes into it - are you assuming that everyone questioning or challenging bigotry is only doing it because they have been told to, or think they're trying to be part of a cool crowd? (Would make sense with your thinking people only do it for likes)
I'd have said it's more independent thought to speak out rather than just go with the rest and agree with everyone for an easy life and back pats.

Wow i can see where your moral compass is

So you have to be woke to not be racist or not condone it
No, woke seems to have many different meanings, you don't have to be woke to not be racist whatever woke means

Performative virtue.

It seems your a tad angry ?

Who me?
Not in the slightest lol
Having a different opinion and voicing it doesn't mean you're angry

@Quaagars

Who me? Not in the slightest lol Having a different opinion and voicing it doesn't mean you're angry

Nor does it mean you're a bigot.

Woke to me means a refusal to ever hear any other opinion and even engage in debate. I had an argument with a labour canvasser last election. She had initially been thrilled to engage with a non white ex trade union activist on their doorstep, I live in a very white area with about 5% ethnic minorities. Never have I seen someone turn on a penny so rapidly nor get so openly hostile when I dared question why Labour were losing the votes of so many women.

As someone said, it's all just name-calling on the Internet.

Let's be specific:
I think historical figures shouldn't be played by a person of different ethnicity to the historical figure. Reason: just for accuracy. Woke/PC or not?

I think fictional characters should be up for grabs to any ethnicity who wants to/can play it regardless of how long it's been portrayed as something else. Reason: it's fiction. Woke/PC or not?