5 ms·

What does “woke” mean?

by jpster 5y ago

drdeca 5y ago
Do you not know? Are you unfamiliar with how it is used?
- consumer451 5y ago
  > Do you not know? Are you unfamiliar with how it is used? In this case those seem to be two different things. At least I hope. Do you agree with the Oxford definition? > alert to injustice in society, especially racism. > "we need to stay angry, and stay woke"
  - drdeca 5y ago
    the use is often ironic. Referring more to political affiliation with people who, perhaps, consider themselves to be alert to injustice and such. Like calling someone self-righteous. Also, I don't think the "especially racism" is accurate anymore (at least among the ironic use, which, in my experience, is the more common one). The stronger association nowadays is with like, positions about minorities among sexualities and gender identity, not primarily around race. Was this really unclear to you? Are you not exposed to this kind of use frequently?
deleted 5y ago
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consumer451 5y ago
> What does “woke” mean? This is a very important question. Oxford says: > alert to injustice in society, especially racism. > "we need to stay angry, and stay woke" I would love to learn the exact definition which the grandparent uses internally. Other terms which have one English definition and yet widely disparate meanings depending on political indoctrination in the USA: - Capitalism - Communism - Socialism - Social Democracy - I'm sure many others If we could at least start by having the same meanings for very important words like this, then maybe I would have more hope for US stability. Hacking this basic issue seems like the most disruptive and positive move possible in US civil discourse.
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bitwize 5y ago
It comes from the black community in the 70s, who in turn may have gotten the concept from Gurdjieff, who famously said "man is asleep" and therefore unaware of "the terror of the situation". "Stay woke" in the 70s meant "be aware of the actual social situation around you; Whitey is still not your friend". Anyone who uses "woke" as a pejorative is promoting sleep -- personal and social unawareness. And thus the terror continues...
akomtu 5y ago
I'd define "woke" as identity fundamentalism. It's all about identity - black vs white, male vs female, gender conformant vs non-conformamt; and it's fundamentalism because it doesn't admit a middle ground - you either blindly join them, or become their enemy. CRT is a good summary of their views.
- jpster 5y ago
  Blindly join them in what, exactly?

What does “woke” mean?

by jpster 5y ago

What does “woke” mean?

drdeca 5y ago

Do you not know? Are you unfamiliar with how it is used?

consumer451 5y ago
> Do you not know? Are you unfamiliar with how it is used? In this case those seem to be two different things. At least I hope. Do you agree with the Oxford definition? > alert to injustice in society, especially racism. > "we need to stay angry, and stay woke"
- drdeca 5y ago
  the use is often ironic. Referring more to political affiliation with people who, perhaps, consider themselves to be alert to injustice and such. Like calling someone self-righteous. Also, I don't think the "especially racism" is accurate anymore (at least among the ironic use, which, in my experience, is the more common one). The stronger association nowadays is with like, positions about minorities among sexualities and gender identity, not primarily around race. Was this really unclear to you? Are you not exposed to this kind of use frequently?

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

consumer451 5y ago

> What does “woke” mean? This is a very important question. Oxford says: > alert to injustice in society, especially racism. > "we need to stay angry, and stay woke" I would love to learn the exact definition which the grandparent uses internally. Other terms which have one English definition and yet widely disparate meanings depending on political indoctrination in the USA: - Capitalism - Communism - Socialism - Social Democracy - I'm sure many others If we could at least start by having the same meanings for very important words like this, then maybe I would have more hope for US stability. Hacking this basic issue seems like the most disruptive and positive move possible in US civil discourse.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

bitwize 5y ago

It comes from the black community in the 70s, who in turn may have gotten the concept from Gurdjieff, who famously said "man is asleep" and therefore unaware of "the terror of the situation". "Stay woke" in the 70s meant "be aware of the actual social situation around you; Whitey is still not your friend". Anyone who uses "woke" as a pejorative is promoting sleep -- personal and social unawareness. And thus the terror continues...

akomtu 5y ago

I'd define "woke" as identity fundamentalism. It's all about identity - black vs white, male vs female, gender conformant vs non-conformamt; and it's fundamentalism because it doesn't admit a middle ground - you either blindly join them, or become their enemy. CRT is a good summary of their views.

jpster 5y ago
Blindly join them in what, exactly?