Woke, anti or otherwise, as it is today, strikes me as a deftly deployed red herring. It plays into the hands of those governments that couldn't care less, who can sit back and watch with glee as we tear ourselves apart over words and ideas, so they never need worry about our actions.
Extending this further, and possibly too far, I sometimes wonder if the global news cycle is used in exactly the same way. There are so many horrendous things happening across the world. Humans have finite capacity and 24 hours in a day. Whilst we're busy being outraged by global news, and telling each other which side we should be on to be "good" in these global issues, we're not spending nearly as much time holding our governments to account on the finer detail of local policy.
It's the "someone always has a worse day somewhere" argument gone large. By that logic, in the western world, how politics and society treat people locally never becomes the priority, because there are bigger atrocities globally.
Very convenient if you're, say, the UK government at the moment, and for populists everywhere.
I have surprisingly been going through similar interactions (although nowhere near as respectful as yours since my friends aren’t considered centrist) with my circle of friends. I have noticed a pattern with guy friends especially. Usually ones that were considered “intelligent” within their social groups. Once they reach late 30s, they started picking up Mark Manson book (usually because they felt related to the cover), adopted worldview that’s very “us vs. them”, very antagonistic towards the changes happening in the world, started using the term “left”.
These people are very disillusioned by the world themselves. It’s too chaotic. Too many perspectives to consider. Too many “sensitive” people that they have to be considerate to. It’s too much for them so they started viewing the world very differently and narrowly. A self defence mechanism of some sort. A way that let them not take “accountability” of their own actions.
And this is the trend I’m seeing up close. I have two guys who contacted me out of the blue (they do so sporadically over the years we’ve known each other) and I’m just appalled by their communications and change in their mindsets. Maybe not a change, since it probably was there from the beginning but just quieter.
I felt I needed to be vocal about my stance too. I’m glad I’m subscribed to you - it doesn’t feel so lonely in Bangkok.
Thanks Sarah. This is another great post. Very rational and considered.
I really loved the Naomi Klein quote about distraction. I've catching public transport in Sydney solidly for the past month and have been observing people's behaviour. The vast, vast majority scroll through social media robotically :(
I have recently become a captive audience to some anti-woke rhetoric. I’m currently spending about 2 hours a week with my Physiotherapist which ironically makes him one of the individuals I’m getting the most chance and opportunity for consistent ongoing dialogue with. He’s now comfortable enough around me to start letting some of the clinical professional facade slip which initially meant some really great chats but is now turning into so many moments that start with the words “the problem with the woke agenda…”
He is an otherwise thoughtful, intelligent, relational human with whom I have a lot in common. We have no issues agreeing on a raft of other topics from hiking to cost of living and climate crisis. But on this he’s caught in the binary, and has bought into the idea that theres a really dangerous woke-ness that is threatening culture - in particular threatening his culture, rights and freedoms as a white het male. I found myself wondering if it was time for a new physio but realised that would be boycotting and buying into the binaries by only spending my money on people who he would consider ‘woke.’ He’s actually a fantastic medical practitioner! Going to seek ways to elevate or at a minimum, shift the conversation.
So right, Sarah! Really boring, but easy. And maybe just the start? What comes next? I think more complexity and our continued slide into collapse unknowns will result in more latching on to simple and distracting, Us vs. Them, thinking? Pick a side. It's safe, easy. We don't have to go deep and do the work and pick at the nuance and confront the (our) shadows. We don't even have to have empathy! That side is unfathomable. I'm the manager of my son's hockey team. Just before a game, I got wind of a new dressing room policy. I hadn't had a chance to read up on it so I asked the coaches. Their response, "oh you know, just some of that woke bullshit". That was it. They were absolved of any further parsing out of the issue, or an attempt at understanding, with that one word.
Yesterday a BBC programme said Pepper Pig and Mary Poppins had offence racist and sexists aspects 😂
This is all so crazy, as you say it’s incredible how smart people are getting sucked in. I really appreciate you bringing the dangers of Woke to peoples attention. 🙏🏻
Very measured and sensible article. I have to say that what the right derides as “woke” strikes me as good manners or, as you said, treating people as humans. I think as soon as right-wing extremists use woke, they have lost an argument.
Courageously said Sarah, an excellent article that can be summed up in your following line “We have to put down the weapon. Because it will only shoot us in the foot”.
“Woke “ is a total distraction, a sleight of hand that divides and separates us from what really matters. We are at a pivotal point, Gaza and other atrocities are deciding what future we will get ;not whether we are “Woke” or not. ❤️🩹
Saw this clip this morning - you're onto something Sarah!
It definitely feels like the enshittification of the online world is poisoning irl discourse as well. These 'clashes' between 'woke' and 'anti-woke' are so overstated. They are clickbait catnip. Fake news indeed. And they are polarising for the very same reason all clickbait attention pillaging content is - outrage generating. But we should be able to tell that it's not real. The fact that people can't tell is what worries me. And of course, that it distracts us from what is real. Very worrying.
Hi, Sarah: First of all to get this out of the way - I hate you. Because of the podcast episode with Helen Lewis I now have yet another enlightening Substack to read when I have really no business adding any more to my current list!!!
What a brilliant chat and so wonderful to listen to a discourse which recognizes those of us who are hanging out in the middle (sometimes centre left, sometimes centre right) who apparently need to be either or nothing and really want to try and understand all of it without needing to push an agenda. Thank you!!!
This reminds me of a former yoga teacher of mine who I am connected with on Facebook. I have blocked her from my feed but occasionally will look at her page to see what she's talking about. The strange marriage of hippie yoga types and the far right kind of boggle my mind. I think the covid vaccine stuff is what led them to each other. Her most recent post is about the conspiracy theory around 15 minute cities and for someone who grows her own food, it strikes me as odd that she can't see why having a grocery store within walking distance could be a good thing. She posted a screenshot of Oxford England's explanation of their 15 min city highlighting things she found freedom infringing. But ignored a line right below that said, all of the above doesn't mean you can't drive around just that it may take longer to go on an out of the way route. It's almost comical how these types call those who question these conspiracy theories sheeple why they are the ones holding so tightly to largely unfounded beliefs. This polarization is so disheartening. And also, for someone who says Namaste to her classes everyday, she can be pretty nasty in Facebook comments. Yikes!
As a baby boomer I sit back with astonishment sometimes in observing where the world is and then I remember my youth and discontent and pushback from authority that, in my case, was quickly squashed! Lol
Feminism, human rights, apartheid, gay rights all happening in one huge explosion of multiple pendulums taking off at great speed. I love that we are even able to explore such issues in the West. Such freedom to grow. So fortunate.
My greatest concern is in education where the example of holding the left and right in balance, whilst still fostering the exploration of boundary pushing, must be maintained. Good old fashioned common sense of our institutions means teachers and professors are not afraid to speak, just as students are allowed to speak.
Tyranny on any side, for any cause, is still tyranny.
Let’s move on from woke or anti woke to curious discourse and respect in the spirit of compassion.
It's fantastic that you are able to have respectful disagreement/ discussion with your friend, and remain friends. The world definitely needs more of that. Kudos to you both.
I always considered myself on the left. I signed up for the electoral role in order to vote greens. My views/values have remained relatively the same: I believe in freedom and human rights. Strangely, our prevailing culture appears to have drifted so far to the left (which is "woke") that I'm now viewed as right wing (ie the people protesting for human rights during covid were portrayed as right wing extremists, me being kne of them).
There seems to be a lot of awareness in our society around right wing extremism, but a blind spot to left wing extremism, and we don't seem to know where that line is.
The "gender thing" for example, it is now illegal in Victoria to "misgender" someone. One must "affirm" a child's self-identity and wish to use things like puberty blockers. This isn't fringe anymore. This is the LAW! It's insane. Same deal with DEI initiatives which are fundamentally racist and sexist (ie preferential treatment based in race and sex)
The right can go too far, and so can the left.
Anytime we infringe upon basic human rights and freedom, is where I believe we can see the line being crossed (ie infringing upon free speech and medical consent which the left seem to love)
If we can continue having open respectful conversations without censorship, we'll do well.
Woke, anti or otherwise, as it is today, strikes me as a deftly deployed red herring. It plays into the hands of those governments that couldn't care less, who can sit back and watch with glee as we tear ourselves apart over words and ideas, so they never need worry about our actions.
Extending this further, and possibly too far, I sometimes wonder if the global news cycle is used in exactly the same way. There are so many horrendous things happening across the world. Humans have finite capacity and 24 hours in a day. Whilst we're busy being outraged by global news, and telling each other which side we should be on to be "good" in these global issues, we're not spending nearly as much time holding our governments to account on the finer detail of local policy.
It's the "someone always has a worse day somewhere" argument gone large. By that logic, in the western world, how politics and society treat people locally never becomes the priority, because there are bigger atrocities globally.
Very convenient if you're, say, the UK government at the moment, and for populists everywhere.
I have surprisingly been going through similar interactions (although nowhere near as respectful as yours since my friends aren’t considered centrist) with my circle of friends. I have noticed a pattern with guy friends especially. Usually ones that were considered “intelligent” within their social groups. Once they reach late 30s, they started picking up Mark Manson book (usually because they felt related to the cover), adopted worldview that’s very “us vs. them”, very antagonistic towards the changes happening in the world, started using the term “left”.
These people are very disillusioned by the world themselves. It’s too chaotic. Too many perspectives to consider. Too many “sensitive” people that they have to be considerate to. It’s too much for them so they started viewing the world very differently and narrowly. A self defence mechanism of some sort. A way that let them not take “accountability” of their own actions.
And this is the trend I’m seeing up close. I have two guys who contacted me out of the blue (they do so sporadically over the years we’ve known each other) and I’m just appalled by their communications and change in their mindsets. Maybe not a change, since it probably was there from the beginning but just quieter.
I felt I needed to be vocal about my stance too. I’m glad I’m subscribed to you - it doesn’t feel so lonely in Bangkok.
Like all dreamers, I mistook disenchantment for truth.
Jean-Paul Sartre (1964) ‘Écrire’
Thanks Sarah. This is another great post. Very rational and considered.
I really loved the Naomi Klein quote about distraction. I've catching public transport in Sydney solidly for the past month and have been observing people's behaviour. The vast, vast majority scroll through social media robotically :(
If woke means I give a shit about our collective humanity, then I must be woke 😌
I have recently become a captive audience to some anti-woke rhetoric. I’m currently spending about 2 hours a week with my Physiotherapist which ironically makes him one of the individuals I’m getting the most chance and opportunity for consistent ongoing dialogue with. He’s now comfortable enough around me to start letting some of the clinical professional facade slip which initially meant some really great chats but is now turning into so many moments that start with the words “the problem with the woke agenda…”
He is an otherwise thoughtful, intelligent, relational human with whom I have a lot in common. We have no issues agreeing on a raft of other topics from hiking to cost of living and climate crisis. But on this he’s caught in the binary, and has bought into the idea that theres a really dangerous woke-ness that is threatening culture - in particular threatening his culture, rights and freedoms as a white het male. I found myself wondering if it was time for a new physio but realised that would be boycotting and buying into the binaries by only spending my money on people who he would consider ‘woke.’ He’s actually a fantastic medical practitioner! Going to seek ways to elevate or at a minimum, shift the conversation.
" if we are separated, I'll try to wait for you on your side of things "
w.s.merwin...from travelling together
Yes mentioned this before on a Gaza post. X
So right, Sarah! Really boring, but easy. And maybe just the start? What comes next? I think more complexity and our continued slide into collapse unknowns will result in more latching on to simple and distracting, Us vs. Them, thinking? Pick a side. It's safe, easy. We don't have to go deep and do the work and pick at the nuance and confront the (our) shadows. We don't even have to have empathy! That side is unfathomable. I'm the manager of my son's hockey team. Just before a game, I got wind of a new dressing room policy. I hadn't had a chance to read up on it so I asked the coaches. Their response, "oh you know, just some of that woke bullshit". That was it. They were absolved of any further parsing out of the issue, or an attempt at understanding, with that one word.
Yesterday a BBC programme said Pepper Pig and Mary Poppins had offence racist and sexists aspects 😂
This is all so crazy, as you say it’s incredible how smart people are getting sucked in. I really appreciate you bringing the dangers of Woke to peoples attention. 🙏🏻
Very measured and sensible article. I have to say that what the right derides as “woke” strikes me as good manners or, as you said, treating people as humans. I think as soon as right-wing extremists use woke, they have lost an argument.
Courageously said Sarah, an excellent article that can be summed up in your following line “We have to put down the weapon. Because it will only shoot us in the foot”.
“Woke “ is a total distraction, a sleight of hand that divides and separates us from what really matters. We are at a pivotal point, Gaza and other atrocities are deciding what future we will get ;not whether we are “Woke” or not. ❤️🩹
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5llpq4INOT/?igsh=MTRxYXkxcWo0aGFqMg==
Saw this clip this morning - you're onto something Sarah!
It definitely feels like the enshittification of the online world is poisoning irl discourse as well. These 'clashes' between 'woke' and 'anti-woke' are so overstated. They are clickbait catnip. Fake news indeed. And they are polarising for the very same reason all clickbait attention pillaging content is - outrage generating. But we should be able to tell that it's not real. The fact that people can't tell is what worries me. And of course, that it distracts us from what is real. Very worrying.
Hi, Sarah: First of all to get this out of the way - I hate you. Because of the podcast episode with Helen Lewis I now have yet another enlightening Substack to read when I have really no business adding any more to my current list!!!
What a brilliant chat and so wonderful to listen to a discourse which recognizes those of us who are hanging out in the middle (sometimes centre left, sometimes centre right) who apparently need to be either or nothing and really want to try and understand all of it without needing to push an agenda. Thank you!!!
This reminds me of a former yoga teacher of mine who I am connected with on Facebook. I have blocked her from my feed but occasionally will look at her page to see what she's talking about. The strange marriage of hippie yoga types and the far right kind of boggle my mind. I think the covid vaccine stuff is what led them to each other. Her most recent post is about the conspiracy theory around 15 minute cities and for someone who grows her own food, it strikes me as odd that she can't see why having a grocery store within walking distance could be a good thing. She posted a screenshot of Oxford England's explanation of their 15 min city highlighting things she found freedom infringing. But ignored a line right below that said, all of the above doesn't mean you can't drive around just that it may take longer to go on an out of the way route. It's almost comical how these types call those who question these conspiracy theories sheeple why they are the ones holding so tightly to largely unfounded beliefs. This polarization is so disheartening. And also, for someone who says Namaste to her classes everyday, she can be pretty nasty in Facebook comments. Yikes!
As a baby boomer I sit back with astonishment sometimes in observing where the world is and then I remember my youth and discontent and pushback from authority that, in my case, was quickly squashed! Lol
Feminism, human rights, apartheid, gay rights all happening in one huge explosion of multiple pendulums taking off at great speed. I love that we are even able to explore such issues in the West. Such freedom to grow. So fortunate.
My greatest concern is in education where the example of holding the left and right in balance, whilst still fostering the exploration of boundary pushing, must be maintained. Good old fashioned common sense of our institutions means teachers and professors are not afraid to speak, just as students are allowed to speak.
Tyranny on any side, for any cause, is still tyranny.
Let’s move on from woke or anti woke to curious discourse and respect in the spirit of compassion.
It's fantastic that you are able to have respectful disagreement/ discussion with your friend, and remain friends. The world definitely needs more of that. Kudos to you both.
I always considered myself on the left. I signed up for the electoral role in order to vote greens. My views/values have remained relatively the same: I believe in freedom and human rights. Strangely, our prevailing culture appears to have drifted so far to the left (which is "woke") that I'm now viewed as right wing (ie the people protesting for human rights during covid were portrayed as right wing extremists, me being kne of them).
There seems to be a lot of awareness in our society around right wing extremism, but a blind spot to left wing extremism, and we don't seem to know where that line is.
The "gender thing" for example, it is now illegal in Victoria to "misgender" someone. One must "affirm" a child's self-identity and wish to use things like puberty blockers. This isn't fringe anymore. This is the LAW! It's insane. Same deal with DEI initiatives which are fundamentally racist and sexist (ie preferential treatment based in race and sex)
The right can go too far, and so can the left.
Anytime we infringe upon basic human rights and freedom, is where I believe we can see the line being crossed (ie infringing upon free speech and medical consent which the left seem to love)
If we can continue having open respectful conversations without censorship, we'll do well.