What is generation woke?

I will admit that there was a time I would have had somewhat of a  "question everything" mindset. But that was at a time when the hot button issues of the day were the Iraq War, and the Financial Crisis. These hot button issues were not exclusively a question of human rights, science, or empirical concerns. They were political, and as such most of that era was "ordinary time" where the normal issues of Government were out front and centre (sure Ireland didn't go to the polls on any issue (apart from two by-elections) between 2004-2007). You could hold that position rather comfortably, without impacting people too much. As the world has changed, and issues refocussed, many of the hot button issues of the day, are very much capable of being answered by deferring to science (coronavirus combatting, vaccines, climate change, sexual orientation) or indeed reference to human rights (reproductive, marriage, recognition of orientation). Essentially key debates are now on other issues, as social democracy breaks down borders and opens up new avenues.

Questions which have answers like this don't necessarily need debate, simply because one side come to it with facts, and science and social justice on their minds, while the other come to it with rhetoric, and an agenda, often laden with false claims and bogus answers. In that case debate is entirely dangerous as it minimises the importance of facts based on some flawed view of democracy, and then it becomes an auction about who can shout loudest, and in the pig-headed world of rhetoric, it tends to be the person who has less to offer, apart from their bluster.

Questions which serve to minimise or lessen, or weaken the human rights of others are dangerous. Debate in these areas has the implicit effect of legitimising or equalising positions which would serve to hurt other human beings, and weaken their ability to participate freely, and without impediment within society. Ireland has gradually opened up its once highly restrictive laws, and it has not led to the unravelling of society, nor does it negatively impact it. Progressive, and evolving social democracy is something that we should strive for, and the side of the debate in Divorce '95, Equal Marriage '15 and Repeal '18 that were against change lost, and across the board failed to make a coherent, and compassionate case that could in any way suggest that the had a valid point.

After that, everything else is on the table, and should be viewed through the prism of open and free debate. But those issues tend not evoke the same style of response, simply because they are issues that are correct for open and frank political debate. These issues tend not to come with the tag of "bigot", or "SJW" but terms like "Neo-liberal" (which has finally evolved into just "liberal"), and "communist". When in fact most people will come at the debate from what would be (on the political spectrum) the centre-left and the centre right. 

seanyshuffler wrote: So can people have a different view without coming across as right wing/bigot/woke/etc?