A Washington Post columnist who considers himself pretty woke recently published a column pitting right-wing authoritarianism against “extreme wokeness.” Of course, the argument was that right-wing authoritarianism was far worse as it was a threat to democracy. Still, it was interesting to see a liberal columnist admit there is such as thing as extreme wokeness.
Podcast host Eric Weinstein posits a different theory: that no one on earth really believes woke ideology. They might advocate for it and even fight for it, but do they believe in it?
Hyper-Unpopular View: I don’t think a single person on earth believes “Woke Ideology”.
— Eric Weinstein (@EricRWeinstein) June 21, 2021
Any soul who truly “identifies as an eagle” would be instantly eliminated by testing the hypothesis. A person who believed that 2+2=5 would be unable to file taxes.
“Get woke, go broke” is nowhere near extreme enough. Truly believing in Wokeness would get you jailed…or killed.
— Eric Weinstein (@EricRWeinstein) June 21, 2021
My hypothesis is that every single soul espousing Wokeness, Critical Theory, etc, is doing so disingenuously & without exception. That is why it can’t be defeated by reason: Wokeness is reveling in the idea that it makes no sense. The only ones believing it are those fighting it.
— Eric Weinstein (@EricRWeinstein) June 21, 2021
Further, this is why “inclusion” is at its core as a strategy. Because the remedy for Wokeness wasting the energy of the developed world by boring us to death is to *exclude* it, not on the basis of it being wrong, but because the saboteur must always be excluded from civic life.
— Eric Weinstein (@EricRWeinstein) June 21, 2021
Let me give other positions so extreme that they are prima-facie disingenuous.
Crypto: Toxic Bitcoin maximalism.
Hyper-Conservatives: We need a strong defense in a dangerous world but also **all** tax is theft.
Etc.All of these are parasitic on someone else being the adult.
— Eric Weinstein (@EricRWeinstein) June 21, 2021
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Of course not. It's just a power game.
— Kevin Kautzman (@KevinKautzman) June 21, 2021
It's weaponized virtue, that's all. They know, we know, and they know that we know. And we still cower.
— Flo (@basic_flo) June 21, 2021
But many (especially powerful) people believe they can use it. And, indeed are using it. Which is really all that matters.
— Scott Rush (@elohimomega) June 21, 2021
I think it’s true. They subconsciously use it as a harbinger in response to perceived injustice.
— Findlay Ben (@FindlayBen) June 21, 2021
As a person in academia, 100% agree, people are being "motivated" into it by greed and fear.
— Liver Engine (@EngineLiver) June 21, 2021
When the difference between belief and compliance ends with windows getting smashed, buildings burnt, reporters and bystanders being assaulted, I don't think the nuance matters much.
— George Alexopoulos (@GPrime85) June 21, 2021
I've been thinking this more and more.
— Atticus Levi (@atticus_levi) June 21, 2021
Being “woke” is an unattainable status, like “utopia”. Woke is the pinnacle consciousness, utopia the pinnacle community — neither is possible.
Life is complex, spread love.
— John Ramirez (@johnramirez) June 21, 2021
I totally agree 👍
— Kristoffer Willner (@kris_willner) June 21, 2021
They don't believe it but they accept it. It doesn't require belief. It requires acceptance.
— e.s. (@noradimond) June 21, 2021
A huge portion of it online must be a type of preemptive ‘good guy’ stamping to ensure they don’t lose their jobs once this farce plays out fully – pure self interest no more altruistic than the en masse corporate logo changes during pride month.
— Ash P (@NextYearInc) June 21, 2021
Some believe it. Some know it isn't sustainable and that's the point. Burn it all down in their eyes.
— RelentlessNRecovery (@RelentlessNReco) June 21, 2021
Social trends need to be named before they can be reasoned about. The woke trend is just coming into being named, which means the end is in sight.
Once it’s named, regular midwits will be able to associate successes and failures with the movement; The “go broke” becomes obvious.
— James Dueck (@JamesDueck) June 21, 2021
New paper idea : “The psychology of overriding physical evidence with utopian ideals”
— mt void (@void_mt) June 21, 2021
Wokeness is a religion to some folks. They most definitely believe it and are forcing their beliefs down everyone's throat.
— André (@clovemartin) June 21, 2021
Have you walked around a college campus in the last 10 years?
— J.D. Port (@Desprx) June 21, 2021
Dangerously false. I think probably around 94% of the people who support it believe what they support to the point that many of them (~20%) are so psychologically crippled by believing it that they can't not believe it without extreme stress. Maybe 20% of the 6% know their game. https://t.co/UMWXtWyhGI
— James Lindsay, intentionally unendurable intellect (@ConceptualJames) June 21, 2021
There's a difference between believing it (that it applies to reality and is the best way to view the world) and believing IN it (the efficacy of the ideology itself in achieving it's desired goals)
I think most believe IN it
— Andy (@PositivFuturist) June 21, 2021
Wokeness is and always has been a decoy
— Luke (@LukePatten93) June 21, 2021
This poison is laced with the sugar of righteousness and virtue. People like the taste of it in the beginning. Soon their soul is poisoned and conflicted.
Just wash away the sugar and reveal the poison.— kumar deepak (@krdeepak) June 21, 2021
It's a position to hold if you want to gain leverage. Wokeism gives you a shield. Who would dare go against a view that just wants society to be a utopia?
— Mark Thomas (#playboyreview) (@tenninemedia) June 21, 2021
In a world where our current thoughts are documented for all future people to see, the woke ideology is adopted by those desperately trying to fall on the 'right side of history'.
— 51.89% (@Tomarter88) June 21, 2021
I am sad to say I disagree, having studied with them. They are activists first, who don't have to deal with the consequences of their activities.
— Robert W Rankin (@RankinThomson) June 21, 2021
Eric, unfortunately I think you’re wrong. Have you talked to a younger (less than 21) relative or close friend who buys into woke ideologies? Sadly, from my experience, it is true belief originating in indoctrination alone. They are true believers.
— Jacob Howard (@JacobHobHoward) June 21, 2021
We’re pretty sure from all the TikTok videos we see that go viral that there are a lot of true believers in wokeness — not that they show a lot of intellectual maturity with their TikTok rants. Do we believe there are a lot of grifters making a living off of telling others how to be woke? Absolutely.
Related:
WaPo: Extreme wokeness isn’t as bad as right-wing authoritarianism because it doesn’t threaten to undo democracy https://t.co/KYXvjuZpeb
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 15, 2021
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