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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:
MagnoliaXYZ · 27/12/2021 22:56

To me, "being woke" means being seen to hold a particular (usually fashionable) view and be vocal about that view, rather than necessarily enacting that view (I know what I'm trying to sense but it might not make sense). I don't think "being woke" necessarily means being passionate about that viewpoint but, to me, it does mean being publicly disapproving of even discussion of the alternative.

I have a cousin who is very vocal about being vegan. She posts about it regularly on social media and about the murder of animals for food. I ended up with her pets as she wasn't looking after them and she regularly visits zoos and farms attractions (so I don't think she is doing it for ethical or welfare concerns for the animals). She consumes a lot of fast food (so not doing it for health benefits). She will drive a mile to work (no reason she can't walk) and will consume palm oil products and other imported products (so not doing it for environmental reasons). She's never said it's due to disliking the taste (and regularly used to eat animal products without any reference to disliking the taste). I can't say I can see why she is vegan other than to say she is vegan. I eat meat and animal products but I have always bought free-range eggs, try to buy local and in-season fruit, veg and other products (or grow my own), try to avoid palm oil products and give my pets (some of whom have been bought, others were rescued) the best life I can. I feel her view is quite hypocritical.

I think political correctness is good - it provides legal protection to minority or at-risk groups and helps people know what terminology to use regarding these groups. "Wokeness" to me means people, usually not members of these minority or at-risk groups, pushing the boundaries of these legal protections and encroaching on the rights of the rest of the population. These "woke" people will not accept how this harms the rest of society and will not listen nor be tolerant to other viewpoints.

For me, this intolerance and hypocrisy is why I see "wokeness" as a bad thing.

FourTeaFallOut · 27/12/2021 22:56

It denies room for shades of grey between black and white. It is a faith based code that shuns critical thinking

Reference: the entire discourse around gender fetish.

Bingbangbongbash · 27/12/2021 22:56

@JohnHuffam1812

Its interesting that the people who are accusing the woke of being intollerent on this thread appear to be the least tolerant.

BTW can you name me an actor or artist who has been cancelled because they aren't "woke".

Gina Corrano.
HunterHearstHelmsley · 27/12/2021 22:57

@JohnHuffam1812

"The whole quiditch argument is insane."

and doesn't in any way "cancel" JK Rowling.

Trying to rename a game she created so it doesn't involve her is an effort to cancel. A ridiculous one being as they still want to play that game, but still an attempt at cancellation
JaneJeffer · 27/12/2021 22:57

Didn't you know @Longcovid21 they were born old and never tried to improve anything in their lives. That's why these poor woke folk have it so hard. Boo hoo.

MarieKlepto · 27/12/2021 22:58

@JohnHuffam1812 I actually think we are on the same page but coming at it from different angles Smile. In terms of basic: Housing, education, the criminal justice system.

bordermidgebite · 27/12/2021 22:58

Things that could be learnt from history and statues of people who we now view as hateful ?

that good people can do bad things ?
that people take on the attitudes and beliefs around them ?
That wealth and success counts more than a good heart?

And by failing to learn these lessons, we will continue to let hate win

Starcup · 27/12/2021 22:59

Being ‘Woke’ has had its day.

Most people now are just like Hmm but let them continue with their virtual signaling for the time being.

Most are just 20 somethings that want to be be seen to be ‘different’, but the reality is, they’re nothing more than ‘snowflakes’ and don’t know they’re born basically.

The people in real life that are like this are often from the most privileged backgrounds and haven’t got a clue what it’s like to deal with real issues.

That’s why people are just like Hmm because they haven’t got a clue in reality

RJnomore1 · 27/12/2021 22:59

@JohnHuffam1812not street names. Removing tv episodes. Changing language in literature. Yes it’s wrong language. Yes it’s shocking. I do believe it should be retained as a record of where we went wrong before.

Remove things that glorify it. Why have statues or slavers or streets named after them. But please don’t remove historical artefacts that show it happened. We forget and we do it again. We are a stupid species.

JohnHuffam1812 · 27/12/2021 23:00

"Things that could be learnt from history and statues of people who we now view as hateful ?"

Statues aren't history. The idea that they are and taking them down removes history is totally false.

History is kept in books.

Longcovid21 · 27/12/2021 23:00

I saw a Facebook post imploring a celebrity to walk into the sea with rocks in their pockets (commit suicide) because of their supposedly non inclusive views. That is wokeness gone very bad. A Liberal parenting page shared the post and Facebook said it didn't violate their community standards. Yet it was goading someone to commit suicide. Disgusting behaviour.

RobotValkyrie · 27/12/2021 23:00

The woke are sanctimonious fanatics, that's why.

They remind me a bit of the French Revolution. It starts all nice and cuddly with very legitimate ideas of democracy and equality and freedom (good)
Then the fanatics and puritans take over, and any voice which does not exactly align with the current dogma gets sent to the guillotine (not good)

silentpool · 27/12/2021 23:00

It makes me think George Orwell was a prophet. Other than that, I do not involve myself.

SportsMother · 27/12/2021 23:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JohnHuffam1812 · 27/12/2021 23:01

"Trying to rename a game she created so it doesn't involve her is an effort to cancel"

Except for the fact that the main problem with the name is the copyright.

It isn't cancelling her, she still publishes, still is on twitter, her books are still on sale etc.

So your example doesn't count.

Try again?

GoatInCaptivity · 27/12/2021 23:02

I think it's a term that's much abused and have moved far away from its original meaning.

In that sense I don't have a problem of people being "woke" to social injustice and prejudice.

What I do have a problem with is with people who "sign up" to causes (usually with minimal effort in the form of online hashtags and posts) who clearly have no understanding of the issues at hand yet believe they are morally superior to people who have different perspectives.

Wanting to make the world a better and more tolerant place is a good thing.

However, there are a large cohort of people for whom this is not the aim.

The aim is to make the world a better place for them as an individual by increasing their online profile/RL status by claiming a "higher ground" whilst ironically behaving in an incredibly intolerant way themselves.

VladmirsPoutine · 27/12/2021 23:03

Tbh a lot of the people who've been cancelled happen to bizarrely found themselves on the front pages of national newspapers or doing tv studio tours about being cancelled - usually helpfully carrying their latest book about their impending cancellation. Being cancelled seems good work if you can get it.

youkiddingme · 27/12/2021 23:03

Because it's largely been weaponised to use against people and increase division rather than for people to bring unity.

bordermidgebite · 27/12/2021 23:03

History is not just in books

That's so naive

Most people don't read history books

Often people discover stories , history when they explore an area , visit a new city
, do a quick google on their phone when something grabs their attention

History is also in the family tales passed down generations

In the tv dramas

IHateCoronavirus · 27/12/2021 23:03

There is a growing trend that everyone should have the same thoughts and opinions which on the surface seem closely aligned with social justice.

However, if you scratch that surface it quickly becomes apparent that the dialogue surrounding those thoughts and opinions doesn’t take in everyone’s unique phenomenological field (which in itself is discriminatory).

By shutting out the full range of experiential development within society, and labelling it with hate, we also shut out the ability to learn from each other and grow individually and as a society. People on both sides close down and go on the defensive, rather than open up, share without fear of being judged, and open themselves to growth,

It is counterproductive.

Starcup · 27/12/2021 23:03

@MagnoliaXYZ

To me, "being woke" means being seen to hold a particular (usually fashionable) view and be vocal about that view, rather than necessarily enacting that view (I know what I'm trying to sense but it might not make sense). I don't think "being woke" necessarily means being passionate about that viewpoint but, to me, it does mean being publicly disapproving of even discussion of the alternative.

I have a cousin who is very vocal about being vegan. She posts about it regularly on social media and about the murder of animals for food. I ended up with her pets as she wasn't looking after them and she regularly visits zoos and farms attractions (so I don't think she is doing it for ethical or welfare concerns for the animals). She consumes a lot of fast food (so not doing it for health benefits). She will drive a mile to work (no reason she can't walk) and will consume palm oil products and other imported products (so not doing it for environmental reasons). She's never said it's due to disliking the taste (and regularly used to eat animal products without any reference to disliking the taste). I can't say I can see why she is vegan other than to say she is vegan. I eat meat and animal products but I have always bought free-range eggs, try to buy local and in-season fruit, veg and other products (or grow my own), try to avoid palm oil products and give my pets (some of whom have been bought, others were rescued) the best life I can. I feel her view is quite hypocritical.

I think political correctness is good - it provides legal protection to minority or at-risk groups and helps people know what terminology to use regarding these groups. "Wokeness" to me means people, usually not members of these minority or at-risk groups, pushing the boundaries of these legal protections and encroaching on the rights of the rest of the population. These "woke" people will not accept how this harms the rest of society and will not listen nor be tolerant to other viewpoints.

For me, this intolerance and hypocrisy is why I see "wokeness" as a bad thing.

Absolutely this!!
elodie77 · 27/12/2021 23:03

I'm all for inclusivity but

"What did father used to say? Everything before the word "but" is horse shit."

JohnHuffam1812 · 27/12/2021 23:03

"It does seek to erase her though, doesn’t it?"

No. As said the trademarking issues for quidditch as a sport are a bigger reason for the name change. It doesn't erase her at all.

Better example needed. JK Rowling has not been cancelled.

bordermidgebite · 27/12/2021 23:04

Are you upset or jealous that cancelling people is hard ?

IcedPurple · 27/12/2021 23:04

@JohnHuffam1812

"Things that could be learnt from history and statues of people who we now view as hateful ?"

Statues aren't history. The idea that they are and taking them down removes history is totally false.

History is kept in books.

That's an incredibly narrow view of history.

Have you never visited a castle or a historic old town and felt surrounded by history? You can learn more about history from places than from books.