The Left Wants to Turn “Woke” Into a Slur-And Shut Down All Debate 

They tried to turn "woke" into the next "What Is a Woman?" The problem is, both are relatively easy to define.

Woke: a colloquial term used to describe the growing culture that rewards and incentivizes narcissism

When you can’t win the argument, ban discussions.

Lol how has everyone apparently forgotten that the term "woke" was *invented by the people it describes* ?

They don’t want their ideology to have a name. That way it’s not an ideology, it’s just ideas that normal people think, and anybody who thinks differently is a horrible person. Just like they deny that ANTIFA is anything more than the idea that fascism should be opposed.

The popular idea that someone uttering "nigger" while quoting Mark Twain or James Baldwin is a racist, while someone who advocates explicit racial discrimination is an anti-racist, is lightyears beyond stupid. It's a joke people want to punish you for laughing at. Ima keep laughing 🤣

If you wanna know who rules over you, learn who you can’t criticize.

WOKE: Putting on blinders and yelling “I SEE!”

"Word shaming" doesn't work for me. Woke, woke, woke, woke, woke.

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis Be afraid people. Every other time this has happened, tens of millions have died. Be very afraid. Wake up. Wake up your friends. Only we, the people, can stem the tide of this evil. No longer can we be complacent, complicit, lazy, ignorant or weak - that is what allowed them to get this far. Cheers!

They did the same thing with MAGA and Let's Go Brandon. Changed the meanings entirely and seek to stop people from using them.

I prefer to call it cultural Marxism anyway.

Their complaint is more of a signal to not just keep using it, but to use it even more.

Never, ever, use the post modernist lexicon. NEVER "unpack" anything other than your luggage. If you adopt their language, you have already lost. You are grossly complicating the process of language destruction. George Orwell articulated this process and it's purpose in 1948.

Just stopped by to say "Woke, woke, wokety, woke".

Christopher, thank you for being our mouth piece.

I admit, I use Woke as mockery. Mea Culpa. 🤣

The definition I use is: An ideology which holds the best way to view society is through arbitrary lenses, such as race, sexuality and sex/gender, attaches 'value' to them, and aims to create social hierarchies based on the same through which society can then be organized. The problem there should be clear, as that description also works for "Bigotry".

"The right can't define woke" and the left can't define gender, sex, man, woman, capitalism, liberty, constitution, etc I think we can bang out a definition in about 5 min, but the left needs to get to work on defining the above.

Thanks for continuing to bring such issues to light-and with such keen insight.

'Woke' has followed a similar linguistic path to 'PC' (or 'political correctness' when it became 'PC'). Left-wing professors in my youth (1970s and 80s) used 'politically correct' quite seriously and without irony -- it was something they really wanted. It was taken over entirely as a critical term by the Right after D'Sousa's book Illiberal Education and no one dares use it now.

To be woke is to be unreasonably suspicious of others.

I love how your conclusions and closing-lines always bring the fire and rally the fight--- with adamantine stance & conviction. Damn-good work!

It's their own self applied label. I have come to regard it as the pronoun of CRT Marxists.

Why are they looking for a ‘shared meaning’ with people who do not engage in debate? What is wrong with these people? You have a decade of censorship, cancelling, riots, and someone still says ‘please let me know what word I should be using?’ The conservatives should man up.

I'm personally not that offended when someone uses the dreaded n-word. I don't have the time, energy or inclination to police other people's language.

We need to diagnose Woke as a new kind of religion and treat it as one keeping it out of our parliaments and schools.

Just call them the lo-res people. 72 dpi.

Wokeness is a power-centric ideology that interprets every instance of unequal outcomes as an instance of oppression. Wokeness divides the society into “oppressors” and “the oppressed,” and casts every role in this great political drama based on race, sex, age, fitness, and religion. Wokeness assumes that everyone who succeeds within its host society does so through dishonest means or through capitulating to the “oppressors.” If there are any honest gains which can’t easily be attributed to deviousness, wokeness presupposes that it’s a bug in the system, not a feature. Wokeness seeks to dismantle or otherwise reconstitute the “oppressive” foundations of Western society into the three pillars of wokeness: Diversity (what you’re allowed to do), Equity (what you’re allowed to own), and Inclusivity (what you’re allowed to say).

It is interesting to watch them coordinate in their approach to the different issues. I have to admit that I am impressed by their organization, thoroughness, and zeal. Like a group of ants swarming certain topic threads and always showing up here and there to troll. "You don't know what it is." "It doesn't really exist." "Well, it isn't your personal experience, so what do you know about it?" They attack and question your understanding of meanings, while they redefine words and hold you to the meanings they are trying to promote. They will then turn and label you with terms that make you question yourself or your actions. They use terms that they know are triggering to distract or turn you toward self examination. This is just brainwashing and demoralization. It's just psychological gas lighting and manipulation. If you've ever dealt with a narcissist, this is familiar. Which is why they demand that truth be subjective and like shifting sand. And they are the shifters. We must refuse to shift or to be afraid. We must use the words as we know them, and we must not buckle to their condemnation or willful pretend misunderstanding. And be CAREFUL what terms we are willing to adopt. TRUST in the truth that you know. Do not allow for the deception. Everyone knows what NO is. Rufo is right. This is a precursor to the type of controls that we have never experienced in the U.S. This is deadly, and we had better take it seriously. The current administration is not averse to forcing us into electric cars or into getting vaccines. They aren't unwilling to take children from parents who don't agree with certain agendas. They have demonstrated that they will lock up or unfairly go after people for their politics. It I'm any judge, this is going to get much worse. We must not be afraid of the bullies.

They're perfectly aware that a word is defined by its advocates' behaviour and would do everything in their power to hide the fact.

The point made regarding everything being treated as a dog whistle is scarily valid. I have a large group of former friends that went "woke". They started willfully taking projected offense at what they wanted to believe I "really meant" behind the "dog whistles". They seemed to forget that I'm a conscientious engineer and was actually just being literal and precise in my use of language, and they gave zero paths to dialogue about facts in any way that diverged from their highly binary narrative (i.e. our side good, other side evil, no exceptions). On the up side, my mental-emotional well-being has improved since they stopped talking to me, so it turns out sometimes there are silver linings.

Actually the word "woke" frames the debate in the left's favor - that's why they coined the term. It gives the impression that their idealogy is somehow awakened or superior, when it's actually the opposite. This is a good opportunity for the right to change the terminology and reframe the debate.

Hey, I'm ok with just replacing "Woke" with "Whacked" - no "secret code" issues eh!

Excellent. Thank You Christopher.

Beautiful. I'm an 'old labour' guy in the UK - so basically happy with capitalism but think if I'm working I should be paid a reasonable wage to lead a reasonable life - and this ideology does not represent all of us on the left in the slightest. So thank you for noticing that in your closing address and yes, I completely agree with you. I would only add that I feel this ideology has done more harm than good. The sooner we shut this down the better.

I recall the controversy about the word "urban" in the UK a few years ago. The offending Newtonian politician was required to educate himself on the slang meanings of words as used by minority groups. I then looked into it and found that the Woke (" Be Kind" on the outside, but authoritarian and unhinged on the inside) have been altering the dictionary definitions of words and expressions. Wikipedia has been updated in this regard, as well as Merriam-Webster. I recall that the Woke also find the word "uppity" offensive. Shut the front door!

So, being called "racist", or a "white supremacist", or a "nazi" isn't offensive? It works both ways.

They don't want their ideology to be critically examined. Why don't we just ban language altogether!!!???

I am not even right and I say it about their most extreme....

So well spoken.

Hahahaha, "be respectful for people who aren't like you" - people like Christians, conservatives

Cristopher describes the intellectual dishonesty of the social madness that is woke very well.

"The rulers wanted to fool us, since they saw we were connected with the good. They took the names of the good and gave them to the not good so with names they could trick and rope us to the not good. As though doing us a favor, they took names from the not good and placed them on the good. They knew what they were doing. They wanted to grab those of us who were free and make us eternal slaves." *Gnostic Gospel of Philip*

"Woke" is a term originally used by the Left to suggest an enlightened insight into sociopolitical issues, but eventually appropriated by the Right to point out excess and hypocrisy within the ideology. In contemporary usage, the term woke could be seen as the equivalent on the Left to a term like "red neck" on the Right, in short a way to describe a mindless and extreme pantomime of a political position.

I'd love nothing more than to shake your hand M. Rufo. I love what you do.

Woke,woke,woke,woke I will say any damned word I like!

“Woke what? Woke, please.” Doesn’t really roll off the tongue like the gamer word.

The first time I remember hearing the word “woke” in the modern context was the song “Redbone” by Childish Gambino, released in 2016. Its actual meaning is being “awoken” from the Marxist notion of “false consciousness”.

In the UK hate speech is that which offends the hearer irrespective of the intent of the speaker. You can actually commit a hate speech crime. There is even such a thing as a non-crime hate speech incident, whichbthe authorities record. The British police waste their time prosecuting people for hurty words while real criminals (burglaries, knife crime in the big cities, drug gangs, child groomers) go largely unapprehended. Long may the USA preserve the right of free speech!

Love your conviction for standing with the truth. Thank you for speaking out on this topic and exposing these manipulative patterns that far-left is using to suppress discourse and debate. I appreciate your courage.

Woke is gnostic hate, this century's personality science is very clear.

Look how bad Portland has gotten since "they" got their way. Success with their own agendas will turn many away over time.

One of my favorite linguistic tricks is the relatively recent substitution of "white supremacist" for "racist". Rather chilling when you know what those who engineered this are up to.

Woke, woke, woke, woke, woke. There I said it.

Your clarity in assessing this issue is extremely helpful to me. You have a knack for then explaining your findings such that it is very easy to follow, and then share with others to engage and understand. Very valuable. Rufo, you're a keeper.

Many linguists contributed to create this new nonsensical language, I'm hoping many others will be interested in exposing the politics of it, nothing to do with kindness etc.

Thanks Chris🙂 I've been watching/listening, rewatching/relistening, to James over the past 5 months and have learned a lot, but must admit I've ... neglected you LOL?😀 Good to find your channel, subbed, and will be watching/listening to you in the future. Our children's futures depend on you guys, parents, and just avg citizen in general being aware and "woke" to their agenda. Your work is appreciated!

When Mao and the Chinese Communist Party won power in 1949, they were determined to create new, revolutionary human beings. Their most precise instrument of ideological transformation was a massive program of linguistic engineering. They taught everyone a new political vocabulary, gave old words new meanings, converted traditional terms to revolutionary purposes, suppressed words that expressed "incorrect" thought, and required the whole population to recite slogans, stock phrases, and scripts that gave "correct" linguistic form to "correct" thought. They assumed that constant repetition would cause the revolutionary formulae to penetrate people's minds, engendering revolutionary beliefs and values. "Linguistic Engineering: Language and Politics in Mao's China". This is Maoist thought reform 101. I highly recommend everyone read "Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of 'brainwashing' in China" by Robert Jay Lifton. Yes we absolutely should reject THEIR redesignation of words and vocabulary. Don't back down an inch.

Whatever word they use to describe themselves will turn into a slur, because they are a slur. Like a slurry of pig poop, which by any other name is still stinky pig poop.

Honestly, "woke" is a slur, just not how the woke think it is.

You can define woke as political correctness taken to the absurd levels that it originally had when PC first appeared back in the Soviet Union

They allow themselves to use any epithet against basically anyone, but no-one should be allowed to label them in any way? These people are scum, no further definition needed.

Great video. We need your voice. James Lindsay does a wonderful job describing the origins of how all this bullshit came to be, but you're doing a wonderful job articulating how it affects us in the here and now and how to fight it. 👊

I love how the very people who constantly change the definitions of terms try to use defining terms as a tool.

Woke believe that if two different people don't enjoy the same quality of life, it is because there is a power imbalance.

Another very highly focussed statement. Keep them coming! Perhaps put them together into a collection. Call is 'Rufo U'.

Mao himself liked and promoted the idea of "magic" words

Start asking: "are the Bill of Rights of the Constitution compatible with Communism?"

Why haven’t we learned to ignore them yet? Just don’t pay attention to them. Don’t give it any of your energy. Continue on living your life and speaking as you would if they didn’t even exist.

Speech suppression leads to physical suppression. This is a very dangerous movement.

Chris, you ROCK! I have been a small contributor for a long time. Your work is superb.

Lol...good luck with that. As I remember it, THEY were the ones that originally started calling themselves that - they ALL used to have it in their Twitter bios.

I observe that the use of double meanings is a demoralization tactic to confuse us about true and false, fact and fiction. Gradually we are taught that we are not allowed to validate the understanding that we hold through our own observations. At the end state of this linguistic maneuver, we are unable to make decisions without expert opinion to tell us what we should think.

Great video. We need to hand out weapons like this widely. When they attack, we need to be reminded of why they are wrong as soon as possible. They just want to sow uncertainly and doubt. Especially among the undecided or (dangerously) uninterested.

You are one smart cookie, Mr. Rufo. Thank you for explaining this sick game so clearly.

Defining any ideology becomes futile because everyone has a different definition. What's more useful, is defining it's doctrine - what do they believe?

Bravo ... Keep up the vital work Christopher - for the sake of Western Civilization indeed! I'm not being hyperbolic here . You provide people with confidence and moral cause , it's crucial , lest people become complacent and subjugate to Woke ideology.

Spot on. They play language games, by redefining words or multiple definitions to play the Mott and Bailey game

"its a beautiful thing the destruction of words" Simes, outer party member 1984

“Those people” is my default for non-standard pronouns.😅

Keep up the mocking! Before we know it using someone's preferred pronouns will be seen as sexist 😂

I think woke represents suburbanite housewives who just want to get along with the cool crowd at their after yoga wine parties.

I’ve never used it as a compliment that’s for sure. My mental picture of woke is a white college aged chick with a guys haircut. I use antifa or blm when referring to woke black people

Well done..as usual

Trying to shut up any questioning or debate that upsets the left too bad

People who tell the truth do not need to censor their opponents.

I define it as over-the-top political correctness. I am not right wing and reject the idea that not liking wokeness means I am.

I've started to use the term Critical Theory, since it's all rooted in that.

Even Chicagoans can get in hot water talking about Chicagoan crime and violence and murda in Chicago. Diversity means total conformity. Inclusion means mass exclusion, for "safety" of some beliefs. Equity means mandatory inequality. Anti-Racism means directly imposing racist policies, according to Kendi.

Good, because I mean it as a slur.

We need a term for the process of an ideology hiding itself.

we do not need anyone telling what is allowed or not

You shouldn't have any "taboos". Yes, there are slurs and there is polite language that people should generally use, but there should be no "taboos".

if the definition for woke never changed it would be a word for the people resisting against wokeness of today

Unreal.. here it comes... slowly but surely

It has no relation to race, at all 🤣 I cannot even begin to argue with something so laughable and racebaiting as that guy at 2:25

Another excellent presentation.

[Question] Is there a specific term for the revolving cycle of using a word, making it taboo, then bringing it back into common use?

Teach people the sticks and stones rhyme.