Entry 2281, on 2023-07-10 at 21:30:48 (Rating 4, Politics)
Search for the word "woke" in my blog and you will find 48 entries containing it. Occasionally it might be used for the more more mundane meaning, such as "I woke up early to drive to the Wanaka Air Show", but more often it is in reference to that bane of modern politics, that cause of so much backward thinking and lack of progress: political woke-ism.
There is no doubt that I have "gone to war" against the woke elements of society, but one of my readers recently pointed out that, despite reading my blog, he didn't really know what woke meant. I suggested it might be like our ex-prime minister's defintion of "hate speech": she couldn't define it, but would know it when she saw it, but since I ridiculed her for that statement I felt that I could definitely do better!
First, like many words in the field of politics, there are multiple ways to look at the interpretation of it. The original meaning was to be aware of social issues, especially those affecting "minority groups", and especially black people in the US, where it originated.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary added the word in 2017, defining it as: "aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)". The Oxford dictionary also added it that year, defining it as: "originally: well-informed, up-to-date. Now chiefly: alert to racial or social discrimination and injustice".
So why would I have any issues with people who are aware of problems involving social injustice? Surely, that is commendable? Well, yes, if that's what it meant in the modern context, I probably would think that, but like other ideas which started off with good intentions and then became problematic after going too far (such as feminism) it's not that simple.
A common, modern definition might be "politically liberal (as in matters of racial and social justice) especially in a way that is considered unreasonable or extreme".
And it's those words, "unreasonable or extreme", which are the key.
So to aid you, my readers, in recognising "woke" behaviour in the modern, more derogatory sense, here is a list of attributes of woke people which I look for. Note that these are my own ideas, and others might disagree!
1. Having an unhealthy infatuation with social justice issues
As I said above, being aware of societal issues of unfairness is a good thing, but making it the core of your existence, looking for it everywhere (even where it doesn't exist), and being outspoken and unreasonably certain about your beliefs in this area, is not good. It's bad for both the person, and for society as a whole.
For example, the woke individual will often see misogyny when there is no reason at all to think it exists. If a female politician is criticised, that's sexism, even when male politicians might be criticised in far harsher terms.
2. Being easily offended (or triggered), often on behalf of others
Woke people tend to become very offended, and demand apologies, and often severe punishments, for anything they disagree with. They see certain speech and actions as inherently offensive, rather than them being a neutral thing which invokes offence in certain people. And they often feel offended on behalf of others.
For example, we see a lot of young, rich university students getting very upset on behalf of groups they don't belong to, like the poor, or black people, or the trans community. Often, many people of those actual communities don't want the attention the woke mob brings.
3. Demanding equity rather than equality
The woke crowd want to see the same outcomes for everyone, even when that makes no sense. Additionally, they tend to apply these standards in one direction only. In the US they want equal numbers of black people in universities, and give them unfair access at the expense of Asian people, for example. That's equity. Equality would demand that people with the same skills get the same access whatever their race, sex, or other immutable character might be,
4. Blaming systemic issues rather than individual actions
When a woke person sees a particular "minority" group doing less well in some way, they tend to blame society, rather than looking at what cultural issues might exist within that group which might be holding them back.
For example, here in New Zealand, Maori have a lower life expectancy than white people. There are many reasons this might be true, and (as I listed in more detail in a previous post) these are very likely to be poor diet, higher rates of smoking, lower employment, and other issues which are primarily the fault of the person, rather than systemic racism. But if you suggest this possibility the woke person will immediately brand you a racist.
5. Assigning privilege based on group membership rather than individual circumstances
Privilege is an important concept for the woke mob. When a group does well, it is usually explained by an inherent privilege that group has, rather than any merit the individuals in that group might show.
On average, white people make more money than some other groups in the US. The woke person would never consider that this might be because of white culture which tends to emphasise hard work. To them it has to be unearned privilege instead.
6. Shutting down opposing ideas (hate speech, internet censorship)
Cancel culture is a significant weapon for the woke. Instead of engaging with people with opposing ideas, they prefer to have them shut down by authorities, by having their invitations to speak withdrawn, or to protest and generally disrupt their speech, instead of debating their points fairly.
Many politically right speakers have had their invitations to speak at American universities revoked. A violent trans mob disrupted a recent women's rights event held by Posie Parker here in New Zealand. You would think they would be confident enough in their beliefs to debate them rationally, but apparently not.
7. Supporting societal measures rather than individual responsibility
If a person seems to be disadvantaged in some way, the woke person will never suggest they embark on a program of self improvement. Instead they will demand that the state or other institutions take action to help them achieve "equity" (see above).
For example, Maori people in New Zealand don't live as long, but instead of starting a program to try to persuade them to eat more healthily and to smoke less, the woke community (including this current government, who are still quite woke, despite the absence of the horrendous previous leader) tell hospitals to give Maori (and Pacifica) preference over other races, even when their needs are the same.
8. Supporting affirmative action
Related to point 7 above, affirmative action involves deliberate programs, usually government run, to help "disadvantaged" groups achieve as well as others who are seen to have privilege.
For example, in the US a black person could get into college with far lower grades than an Asian person. Many talented and hard working Asians lost their place just so that a less skilled and possibly less hard working black person could gain an advantage.
9. Initially seeking equality but not stopping and demanding more
Often woke people, as I readily conceded at the start of this post, had very good reason to try to improve the place of various groups in society. But all the barriers are now gone, and if anything, those previously disadvantaged groups now get more assistance than the rest. But the woke mob enjoy their crusades so much, they don't stop even when equality is achieved.
For example, feminism had a definite place in society when women didn't have the vote, weren't well represented in government, and had various laws and rules specifically designed to suppress their rights. But now those barriers are gone yet there are still demands for more. They just don't know when to stop (see my previous blog post on this subject).
10. Tending to see things in a collective rather than individualistic way
Look back at my points here and you will see a tendency to see people as members of a group rather than as an individual. When people can be seen as part of a good or bad group it's far easier to accept or dismiss their ideas.
For example, if I say I'm uncomfortable with abortion, I am told I'm not allowed that opinion because I'm a man. There's no need to consider my quite well thought-out points because they can be dismissed because of the group I belong to instead.
11. Committing to socialism more than capitalism
The woke mob tends to hate capitalism. They see it through the Marxist lens of being exploitative, greedy, and corrupt. Of course, many woke people do have a liking for Marxism, despite the terrible outcomes it has had everywhere it has been tried. I do admit that capitalism has it's issues, but I think we should see if we can fix those instead of adopting a far worse economic system.
12. Corporations dabbling in social justice issues, which are not part of their core purpose
The phrase "go woke, go broke" has been popular recently. It applies to corporations embarking on advertising or other campaigns with elements of social justice, which tend to illicit a backlash from their customers, sometimes resulting in a massive loss in profits.
Recently Budweiser Light beer is the most prominent example, but Disney seems to love this, even though they are constantly punished for it, and even here in New Zealand, Spark was involved in a recent incident.
13. Assigning equal value to minority views (such as indigenous science)
Woke people often believe all perspectives have equal merit. They might reject science in favour of traditional religious or superstitious beliefs, or say that traditional folk medicine is as good as evidence-based Western medicine.
An example of this is how they are slowly diminishing science in New Zealand, where "Maori science" (which isn't science at all) is being given equal priority with real science in schools. It's absurd and dangerous. Ironically, traditional Western beliefs like Christianity are ridiculed, but traditional superstition is celebrated by these people.
14. Being against traditional Western values
And that leads to something the woke believe which arguably leads to all the other problems: Western culture is exploitative, domineering, and self serving. For example, hard work is a bad thing because it is part of white dominance (I'm not joking, they've really said that). Science is a form of white oppression (funny they don't seem to mind using the fruits of that science, like smart phones and the internet, to make those opinions known).
I think that covers my major points. As you can see, despite the fact that woke-ism started with good intentions, it is now a laughably ridiculous, childish, irrational, and ultimately dangerous belief system (almost a religion). And that's why we need to go to war against it!
Comment 1 by Anonymous on 2023-07-11 at 08:48:14:
No wonder I found it hard to define in a simple statement. As usual an enjoyable well reasoned read.
Comment 2 by OJB on 2023-07-11 at 08:48:47:
A lot of these political words are hard to define or have multiple meanings, depending on your preferences. "Liberal" is a classic example; means completely different things depending on the country, your political leaning, etc.
Comment 3 by Anonymous on 2023-07-12 at 15:05:17:
Lot's of dubious examples, but still no definition. Maybe it is when you see it you know it!
Comment 4 by OJB on 2023-07-12 at 20:32:28:
Well, if I needed a simple, one line, definition it might all come back to point 1: "having an unhealthy infatuation with social justice issues". People who think there is oppression everywhere and like to feel virtuous by eradicating it. They get hysterical and irrational in their single minded pursuit of (usually) non-existent social problems.
Comment 5 by OJB on 2023-07-21 at 16:53:11:
Here's a good one I saw today: "woke informal. US (adj) A state of awareness only achieved by those dumb enough to find injustice in everything except their own behavior."
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