What exactly does "woke" mean?
By John Welford
@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
March 3, 2020 3:15am CST
"Woke" seems to be one of those "in" words that everybody is now using to hurl at other people. It is now assumed that everyone knows exactly what it means and therefore they do not need to give any further explanation.
However, I do NOT know what it means, and it annoys me! On the face of it, it sounds another way of saying "awake", but how that be used as a form of criticism escapes me.
Presumably, there is somebody reading this who DOES know what it means and can put me straight on it - please?
And while we're at it, what precisely is a "hipster"? That's another of those in words that has passed me by!
12 people like this
10 responses
@porwest (91088)
• United States
3 Mar 20
Without introducing politics into the discussion, the word woke is in the United States attributed mostly to the left. It is a term that suggests that Progressive ideas of the left are only realized when you are awake and aware of reality. Of course I disagree with that. But that is generally what's the term means here.
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
3 Mar 20
That's interesting. I agree with you that it seems to have become fashionable to despise anyone with views to the left of centre, especially when they favour anything that smacks of alleviating poverty or making life easier for the "have nots".
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
3 Mar 20
@porwest Those are not attitudes that I share, and I think that this typifies a major difference between American and European mindsets. We see the state as having a major role to play in providing social and welfare services and in making sure that safety nets exist so that the worst off in society do not suffer unduly.
We believe in the mixed economy - capitalist at heart but also aware of the needs of all levels of society, with services funded from general taxation. It does not always work as we might like, and there are still many problems to be solved, but our politics varies between the emphases placed on the extent to which the state operates in providing public services.
1 person likes this
@porwest (91088)
• United States
3 Mar 20
@indexer The left here does not espouse any of that. They encourage welfare programs that keep the poor poor, and right now the party is pretty on the side of socialism. Alleviation of poverty only occurs when businesses are allowed to thrive and provide jobs and opportunity for people to make it on their own. I could go on, but I already know you lean left of center and so there's no point. lol
Although I WILL say, I don't mind helping the helpless. I mind helping the clueless, and there are more clueless than helpless these days.
As for the haves and the have nots? The rich work VERY HARD for their money. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot force him to drink...
That pretty much explains the have nots.
As for the poor in general, I have earned every penny I have. It's not yours. Stay out of my wallet. If I can go get it, so can you.
@arunima25 (87806)
• Bangalore, India
3 Mar 20
English is not our first language. Now that you bring it to notice I too realise it. Never thought of it. I will have to check. I might have used it without knowing it well
1 person likes this
@jnrdutton (3160)
• United States
3 Mar 20
In the critical way it's used these days "woke" refers to those who think they are highly enlightened, when really they aren't. @indexer
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Mar 20
I thought it was just the past tense of 'wake'. I went to JJs link so I'm a bit more clued up now.
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
3 Mar 20
Woke and PC are big now.
my response is at some point we can't say anything. (including this)!
