Jarhyn
Wizard
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2010
- Messages
- 14,517
- Gender
- Androgyne; they/them
- Basic Beliefs
- Natural Philosophy, Game Theoretic Ethicist
We have seen plenty of discussion from the right that "woke" is arrogance. And let me be clear, I don't believe that everyone who has taken such positions here is on "the right in general"; some are actually quite "liberal", at least nominally. But, they are drinking the kool-aid of the right here and so on this issue they are "from the right"...
That said, however, the term "Woke" has a specific meaning in the language it was coined in (an offshoot of American English used by economically isolated black communities): someone who has empathy for people who have been systematically oppressed (and/or oppressed systematically).
The issue here is that to declare oneself empathetic on behalf of a second party, or to declare someone empathetic on behalf of a third party, or even to declare someone NOT empathetic on behalf of such third parties is arrogance. And while corrupt motive can be in play for those who act specifically for the sake of receiving the compliment (rather than merely having empathy), it does not invalidate that the right thing done for the wrong reasons still is the right thing being done.
So, to then slur those who are given compliments, as if to invalidate the compliment, is just as racist as proclaiming yourself complimented on "their" behalf absent "their" input at all.
Both views are arrogance.
Hell, if I still could, I would be negatively repping every single white poster who calls any other person "woke", whether a slur OR a compliment. Because few, if any, white people (including me!) are in a position to make that assessment honestly, and any dishonest or disingenuous use is slurring. And slurring is arrogance. It is taking the burden away from the people for whom empathy is expected from judging whether that empathy is real!
So why do you folks do it? Do you not think that people won't judge your arrogance as abjectly racist? Do you not think we, the rest of the world, can't see through this transparent act of racism in appropriating a term, a compliment into an insult? To attempt to force language others use into a realm of insult? How is this any different from the insulting and inappropriate attack of the use of the OK symbol to do racist dog-whistling?
That's where the line exists. So, do any of the other people who stand slurred as "wokesters" disagree with this?
That said, however, the term "Woke" has a specific meaning in the language it was coined in (an offshoot of American English used by economically isolated black communities): someone who has empathy for people who have been systematically oppressed (and/or oppressed systematically).
The issue here is that to declare oneself empathetic on behalf of a second party, or to declare someone empathetic on behalf of a third party, or even to declare someone NOT empathetic on behalf of such third parties is arrogance. And while corrupt motive can be in play for those who act specifically for the sake of receiving the compliment (rather than merely having empathy), it does not invalidate that the right thing done for the wrong reasons still is the right thing being done.
So, to then slur those who are given compliments, as if to invalidate the compliment, is just as racist as proclaiming yourself complimented on "their" behalf absent "their" input at all.
Both views are arrogance.
Hell, if I still could, I would be negatively repping every single white poster who calls any other person "woke", whether a slur OR a compliment. Because few, if any, white people (including me!) are in a position to make that assessment honestly, and any dishonest or disingenuous use is slurring. And slurring is arrogance. It is taking the burden away from the people for whom empathy is expected from judging whether that empathy is real!
So why do you folks do it? Do you not think that people won't judge your arrogance as abjectly racist? Do you not think we, the rest of the world, can't see through this transparent act of racism in appropriating a term, a compliment into an insult? To attempt to force language others use into a realm of insult? How is this any different from the insulting and inappropriate attack of the use of the OK symbol to do racist dog-whistling?
That's where the line exists. So, do any of the other people who stand slurred as "wokesters" disagree with this?