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Original poster

Why does 'wokeness' annoy people so much?

999 replies

twwindow · 27/12/2021 20:18

Isn't it just trying to make the world a better place but making people feel accepted no matter their race, gender etc?

It seems to wind some people up so bad - and it's usually those that are part of a majority group that gets wound up most by it (usually white/men) - is it because they feel threatened?

Whenever anyone stands up for a cause they are automatically called woke - and it's now as if it's a bad thing.

It's sad, I see people fed up with 'wokeness' as code for 'we can't get away with our racist, sexist BS anymore as people are calling us out'.

OP posts:
user1477249785 · 27/12/2021 20:20

I don't have a problem with people being woke but I do have a problem with people being performatively woke, which is to say talking about it a lot but not actually doing anything to live up to their professed beliefs

SarahJessicaParker1 · 27/12/2021 20:22

Agree it isn't a problem with people being genuinely progressive and inclusive; it's people and more often companies who pay lip service to inclusion, but have boardrooms full of rich, white men.

Also, the word 'woke' was originally to do with race only. It being co-opted by other groups doesn't sit 100% comfortably with me.

RantyAunty · 27/12/2021 20:23

Because it's so fake.

RozHuntleysStump · 27/12/2021 20:27

It’s divisive

starfro · 27/12/2021 20:28

It's the majority of "wokes" that don't really care about the issues at all, just about shaming people, getting likes on social media and feeling morally superior.

Fixing institutional sexism/racism is really difficult and boring, but calling people names on Twitter and getting them fired from their job is fun, easy and for many celebs and influencers quite profitable.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 27/12/2021 20:29

Because the people I know who pride themselves on being woke are the ones who are so inclusive they’re utterly intolerant.

Tal45 · 27/12/2021 20:29

Two words - virtue signalling.

Sometimeswinning · 27/12/2021 20:29

Unfortunately woke is not about educating or empathising. It's not easy to understand so many beliefs are usually developed through upbringing/experience/mindset but that is often the case. The woke are about cancelling/erasing and speaking for other cultures.

buttercuplizzy · 27/12/2021 20:31

Because its the epitome of virtual signalling: do as I say, not as I do.

It is borderline Orwellian it its beliefs. Re-writing history and language to push its regressive ideology and 'cancelling' anyone who doesn't swallow the narrative. They have zero tolerance and believe in 'one' truth.

It also isn't about making the world a better place. It is regressive in all ways. It paints a picture of inclusively, but scratch the surface and it isn't.

BackBackBack · 27/12/2021 20:31

It annoys me because it's been appropriated. It was connected to an awakening of racial injustice. Nowadays it seems to be a marker for performative purity spiralling on social media, in the race to castigate people for the latest wrong think.

Warmduscher · 27/12/2021 20:31

@starfro

It's the majority of "wokes" that don't really care about the issues at all, just about shaming people, getting likes on social media and feeling morally superior.

Fixing institutional sexism/racism is really difficult and boring, but calling people names on Twitter and getting them fired from their job is fun, easy and for many celebs and influencers quite profitable.

This 100%.
SheSaidHummingbird · 27/12/2021 20:32

Hate the term. It's not mostly white men. I agree that it's a performative halo effect. Lots of talk, no action, no change.

MrzClaus · 27/12/2021 20:32

Personally anyone in my actual real life proclaiming to be "woke" is actually a bit of a kn*b! They seem to create issues (lord knows from where) and then create strange solutions, that often include things that impact women, specifically, rather than genetically improving society as a whole.

The "woke" movement, from what I've seen, tends to focus on very very small almost non issues and blow them out of proportion, rather than say, tackling huge systemic inequality (in this country or abroad!).

I personally take issue with being told what I'm allowed to say / do / refer to things as, all the time, just to fit into the current / most recent "allowed" terminology.

Georgeskitchen · 27/12/2021 20:33

Basically the good old intolerance of tolerance, as the saying goes.
Roughly translated as "agree with my opinion or I will destroy you ":

CJat10 · 27/12/2021 20:33
  1. Dismissing (sneering) woke is used on social media to shut down something which confronts behaviour they don't wish to change or admit to
  2. Being so woke you can look down and dismiss or sneer at the plebs
CorneliusVetch · 27/12/2021 20:34

@BrightYellowDaffodil

Because the people I know who pride themselves on being woke are the ones who are so inclusive they’re utterly intolerant.
Agree.
ToastofLandon · 27/12/2021 20:34

@buttercuplizzy

Because its the epitome of virtual signalling: do as I say, not as I do.

It is borderline Orwellian it its beliefs. Re-writing history and language to push its regressive ideology and 'cancelling' anyone who doesn't swallow the narrative. They have zero tolerance and believe in 'one' truth.

It also isn't about making the world a better place. It is regressive in all ways. It paints a picture of inclusively, but scratch the surface and it isn't.

You’ve hit the nail on the head.
Omicrone · 27/12/2021 20:35

Most 'woke' people tend to be the most intolerant people around. If you don't agree with them on absolutely everything then you are a terrible person and you and your impure thoughts need to either be 're-educated' or 'cancelled'.

Its bullshit.

LethargicActress · 27/12/2021 20:36

Because there was nothing wrong with plain old good manners. We do t need wokeness, we just need to get on with being polite and live and let live.

LaurieFairyCake · 27/12/2021 20:37

YeH - wokeness doesn't appear to be about fixing structural inequality or poverty

Just virtue signalling on Insta/Facebook/tik Tok/various websites

It's just lazy bullshit

Let's keep it simple

If you didn't vote against Brexit you're a twat
If you don't get vaccinated you're an arsehole (barring disability)
If you try to hound J K Rowling off the internet for being (not at all) transphobic you're a wanker

Mummadeze · 27/12/2021 20:37

I agree with you.

ItsLoisSangersFault · 27/12/2021 20:39

Could we define what being woke means to posters? It would really help me understand the answers.

LittleBabyCheeses · 27/12/2021 20:39

@Omicrone

Most 'woke' people tend to be the most intolerant people around. If you don't agree with them on absolutely everything then you are a terrible person and you and your impure thoughts need to either be 're-educated' or 'cancelled'.

Its bullshit.

Yes I agree with this. The most ‘woke’ people I know are the people who are the most intolerant of anyone who doesn’t agree with their narrow world view.
MichelleScarn · 27/12/2021 20:39

@starfro

It's the majority of "wokes" that don't really care about the issues at all, just about shaming people, getting likes on social media and feeling morally superior.

Fixing institutional sexism/racism is really difficult and boring, but calling people names on Twitter and getting them fired from their job is fun, easy and for many celebs and influencers quite profitable.

This, all the purity spiralling of the 'omg look at me, I'm so inclusive and accepting of all, as long as you believe what l say, and watch out for the ever changing roolz or be cancelled and die in a fire'.
BlackCatz · 27/12/2021 20:40

Isn't it just trying to make the world a better place

By harassing, firing, and sending death threats to people that disagree with their views?

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