Woke Racism Defies Logic!

I have long wanted to meet John McWhorter. He’s an extremely well-known public intellectual and opinion leader who, in my opinion, always talks sense. I have this rather eccentric idea that before becoming a public intellectual, you need to earn your credentials by having something important and interesting to be intellectual about, and John McWhorter qualifies in a big way. He is a world authority on linguistics, the study of the extraordinary phenomenon of human language, which I think is one of the most important and interesting subjects out there.
We both spoke at the Dissident Dialogues conference in New York this year, and I seized the opportunity to invite him onto The Poetry of Reality. I was delighted and honored when he accepted. I began by asking him about linguistics, including the vexed question of the origin of language.
Only later did we move on to his more controversial book, a book that I strongly recommend, “Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America.
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I will be on tour of North America, UK & EU talking about my latest book, religion, life on earth and beyond. I will be joined on stage by a range of friends and foes on stage. The events will include a Q&A and a limited meet-and-greet. You can get your tickets here: richarddawkins...
#richarddawkins #richarddawkinstour #equalitynow #biology #booktour #thegeneticbookofthedead
#wokeism
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[@notfarfromgone1]

How fortunate we are to listen in on this. Gratitude.

[@IRGeamer]

How fortunate you must be to find a boundless source of baseless assertions that so very conveniently happen to support all your bigotry... /s Every accusation is an admission... "The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell Brandolini's law - "The amount of energy needed to refute BS is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.”

[@notfarfromgone1]

@@IRGeamer - how unfortunate that you seem eager to lash out. get some rest/water and go hug something.

[@Burner39]

@@IRGeamerI’d genuinely like to debate your thoughts - maybe we could educate one another.

[@angelozachos8777]

@@IRGeamer The arguments which challenge your WOKE ideology are increasingly becoming more refined , articulate , robust. WOKE’S destruction & failure is imminent. Your irritation is understandable. Continue coping .

[@troy3456789]

@@IRGeamer I was in disbelief until I read the book "On the Origin of Species", then I realized it has nothing to do with belief at all. You discover that Darwin's was a discovery and that he gets the credit for discovering evolution, because he did all the hard work and documentation of it in a format the everyone can read. Many, many people long before Darwin had proposed the idea, but Darwin did all the hard work. It's just like Galileo gets the credit for discovering that Psalms 104 vs 5 could not possibly be correct, because he did the hard work of it and made it available to everyone. The sun doesn't rise, and it certainly doesn't go around the earth. The church made him recant his discovery, or they would have executed him. Had Darwin discovered what he did 300 years before, the same thing would have happened to him as a result of religious authority.

[@MrSidney9]

The discussion around linguistics was so fascinating. McWhorter never disappoints.

[@name-vi6fs]

I love it when he discusses linguistics.

[@DC-zi6se]

Indo-European and Afro Asiatic languages have a common root??? Sanskrit, Avestan, Greek, Latin etc. related to Hebrew? Can that be possible 🤔

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

It's always fascinating to reflext on language(s). 10:12 I'm not sure though if there is really such a difference between recursion and attribute: "The man who died yesterday was a famous writer." - "who died" has the same function of added information as the adjective "deceased". The sentence could be: "The deceased man was..."

[@bofbob1]

@@cioccolateriaveneziana In a generative analysis, "the deceased man" would be an example of recursion. No shade on McWhorter, but I find that using clausal embedding ("the man who X that Y that Z, etc.") as the go-to example for recursion almost always gives people the wrong idea. Take the following statement: "My sister is a smart scientist". Assign a number to each word in ascending order, 1-2-3-4-5-6. You can get local permutations, like 3-1-2-4-5-6 gets you the interrogative "Is my sister a smart scientist?". But some permutations can't happen because the component parts have fused together, "merged" as it were. "My sister" is stuck together. So is "a smart scientist". And so you could reinterpret the sentence at a higher level of analysis, as 1-2-3, where 1 is "my sister", 2 is "is" and 3 is "a smart scientist". What Chomsky postulated in his minimalist program is that all languages have this merge function. And recursion is a property of merge. I can merge "my" and "sister" to get "my sister", which will then function as its own discrete unit, but then I can use merge again with an adjective, merging "my sister" with "big" to get "my big sister", which will then function as its own discrete unit, etc. So in your example "the deceased man", you've already used merge twice. "The man", then "the deceased man". That's what Chomsky means by recursion. Clausal embedding is one example of recursion, but it's not the only one. And because they always use clausal embedding as the go-to example, this creates the misleading impression that a language without clausal embedding (like Piraha) is a language without recursion, which just isn't true (Piraha has merge, and therefore recursion). In a language without merge, you could imagine generalized linear rules. Say, maybe the way you form the negation of our example sentence ("my sister is not a smart scientist") would be by linearly reversing all the component parts: 6-5-4-3-2-1, i.e. "scientist smart a is sister my". No known language does this. For generativists like Chomsky, this proves that language processing is necessarily hierarchical, not linear. FWIW that's also why he doesn't think LLMs tell us anything about language. Because an LLM could easily produce a linear language where 6-5-4-3-2-1 was the negation of 1-2-3-4-5-6. And if it can produce languages that humans can't, then it's really not telling us anything about human language at all. So he argues anyway.

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

@@bofbob1 Thank you for the explanation! So my intuition was right, recursion doesn't require clauses. The clauses are a formal mean to express something that can also be expressed in other syntactic ways (like a clause with the function of an attribute, or an adjective with the same function).

[@slotcarpalace]

John McWhorter is one of the great minds of our time. Holy shit, this was amazing!

[@dezurniprovokator373]

Actually he is not! That claim is way too big.

[@DennisElliott-h1c]

I love listening to John McWhorter.

[@elingrome5853]

@@dezurniprovokator373 ok mr pedant ;) but I agree, even John would say thats a little over hyped :)

[@willmercury]

​@@elingrome5853 It's not pedantry if it's on point and at scale; it's merely setting the record straight. John is brilliant and wonderful, and doesn't need the hyperbole to be appreciated.

[@skipfluck4299]

Not really, he is just using basic logic, that we all should be using.

[@c2jsi]

This was so good. Two public intellectuals for whom l still have the time and patience.

[@davife]

What a enlightening conversation. This could be a monthly talk and I would watch it.

[@dongeonmaster8547]

Another fascinating interview. I've never heard of John McWhorter before but I am now a fan. I'm looking forward to checking out his work.

[@siggyincr7447]

I can emphatically recommend both his lectures and books on linguistics and also his more contemporary content about social issues. He's Glenn Loury's conversation partner every 2 weeks on The Glenn Show.

[@htdart]

His podcast Lexicon Valley is fantastic.

[@mikegray8776]

You might want to check out his fortnightly conversations with Glenn Loury on The Glenn Show. Always entertaining.

[@RKupyr]

Richard, why make this interview so short? Please continue your discussion with John again, soon. Fabulous juxtaposing of the evolution of biology and linguistics!

[@elingrome5853]

Dude is very old and quite Ill 😉

[@RKupyr]

@@elingrome5853 Thank you. I actually didn't know he was ill. Hurts to hear that.

[@barbaraleonard8379]

This was fascinating !!!!! Thank you so much. The two of you all in one ,well can't get any better than that.

[@9ja9ite]

What an enjoyable conversation to listen to. It’s such a pleasure to hear people having a conversation with an exchange of ideas. So many podcasts are just people talking at each other that is a real gem when you find people actually engaging with each other.

[@antitheistvegan]

Ahh two of my favourite people!! Great chemistry between them.

[@pcbacklash_3261]

Love McWhorter, like Dawkins, but I always learn something when I listen to either of these two.

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

I have a video on my channel regarding VEGANISM, in case you are interested to watch it. Incidentally, the plural of "person" is "PERSONS", not "people".

[@mummifiedgamer]

I clicked on a video promising to talk about woke racism, instead I got a conversation about language for 40 minutes. And I don't regret a second of it.

[@jerome_dangelo]

McWorter is amazing! So glad you had him on!

[@bernhardterblanche7905]

Eloquent, coherent and a message that is sorely needed in our contemporary society going forward. Bravo!

[@MaryDeeBer]

It's a relief and refreshing and inspiring and positively a delight to hear two eloquent people take about reason data facts evidence and above all, logic. Thank you

[@pegm5937]

The language discussion was fascinating ❤

[@susanaltman5134]

I think there is a self-congratulatory aspect to not judging historical people by the times and place they lived in. I think there are people who believe that they would've had no prejudices even if they were born 500 years ago. They are over impressed by themselves.

[@jamesthecat]

Well said!

[@gerardlewis209]

There's also a sense that the people who tear down statues naively believe that only perfect beings deserve statues, which in turn suggests a troubling belief in the possibility of perfect beings, along with an equally troubling penchant for hero worship. Sorry mate, this Churchill statue is here because he helped win an important war, not because we think he was some kind of enlightened guru.

[@twntwrs]

​@@gerardlewis209Churchill deserves a statue for this observation alone: ""Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith."

[@zachthornton8337]

Absolutely! 👍

[@rogerward801]

It's a performance

[@paulthompson3156]

It’s nice to hear people talking about racism in a thoughtful and informative way and contrasts sharply to the ideological screaming of most other forms of this type of conversation. One of the biggest problems of wokeness is the shutting down of conversations and ostracism of people who have dissenting opinions that diverge from the woke dogma.

[@brixan...]

+

[@pcbacklash_3261]

Absolutely! Couldn't have said it better myself.

[@bastiaanvanbeek]

Most content on the internet and tv about woke and racism is highly sensational, impulsive, prejudiced, annoying, boring, irrational, agressive, polarised, superficial etc. And unfortunately, there aren't many Richard Dawkinses around there. And even worse: the most nuanced and honest people on this planet, like Richard Dawkins, will even be disliked by those oversensitive irrational woke and racism debaters and other figures. It's a strange world.

[@pcbacklash_3261]

@@bastiaanvanbeek I'm afraid you're right. The WORST part is that the lunatics on the Right and Left seem to feed each other. They constantly provide the most extreme examples for each other to use to 'prove' just how bad the other side is! And the rest of us get drowned out in all the circus noise.

[@pdcdesign9632]

The so called woke dogma needed to be expressed loudly and aggressively so those old school racist idiots could hear loud and clear 😮

[@Fervillasmil]

What an amazing and enlightening conversation. Thank you, gentlemen.

[@rustyshackleford8497]

Wow, McWhorter and Dawkins! Absolutely brilliant, what a treasure!!!

[@just_another32]

Richard was one of the few well known British academics to speak out against woke racism (in his UnHerd interview with Freddie Sayers last year). It came late, but still very much appreciated. Thank you!

[@Traderbear]

I could have listened to you both for hours 😊

[@mobeltass]

So good to hear two of my greatest heroes in conversation! I remember listening to John McWhorter's lectures on human language as an audio book many years ago, I recommended it to pretty much every person I met for several years. I still think he's one of the best lecturers I've heard, and one of the greatest intellectuals of today. I also must say that he really doesn't look like he's born in -65! Good genes on that guy.

[@gabrielenriquemartinez]

What an awesome conversation. So great to see both pushing on each other's ideas, and thoroughly enjoying it! These two could talked for another two hours. Wonderful!

[@vhawk1951kl]

No two chaps are ever so happy as when they agree about what they cannot abide

[@harrypalmer3481]

Listening to these two Gents gives me a small but significant sense of relief & hope, at least for a short while, & perhaps longer. Appreciated.

[@post_hit_invincibility9940]

John is a fantastic lecturer. Absolutely brilliant. I highly recommend his "Story of human language" lecture-series on audible.

[@PippaPeerless]

I wasn't aware of who John McWhorter was. Boy, what a fantastic mind! Thank you very much indeed Richard 🍰

[@bertieboo]

Thank you so much for a brilliant conversation ❤

[@joyatodd]

As a kayaker the idea of island hopping and coastal exploration makes total sense to me. If one has nouns, hand signals are very useful at sea because sound doesn't carry well. So a proto language might have been quite gestural.

[@theflamingone8729]

Indigenous Australians use sign languages.

[@joyatodd]

@@theflamingone8729 I believe a couple of the North American tribes used sign language during hunting, as do modern soldiers and police in certain circumstances. We are a very adaptable species.

[@theflamingone8729]

@@joyatodd I think anyone who needs to communicate quietly has a form of sign language, those were good examples and applications you mentioned. The languages the Indigenous use here even cover kinship and lineage, whether maternal or paternal side. I think as with anything, need drives development of language.

[@DC-zi6se]

Exactly! like imagine escaping a remote island with someone who doesn't speak your language but understands the goal is to escape. 😅

[@theflamingone8729]

@@DC-zi6se great analogy, every situation that requires a solution could be viewed as escaping a remote island.

[@TLZ78]

Well done. I'm a Christian, but also an Independent Thinker. Wonderful insight. Thank you to the both of you.😊

[@vhawk1951kl]

What leads you to suppose that you could possibly be able to be able to be a christian?

[@diarchos5019]

What a fabulous, thought provoking discussion. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@DentArthurDent68]

I think that people can tell whether an attempt to speak their language is a sincere attempt to communicate, then they can meet in the middle.

[@dunkel.760]

It's always great to listen to Mr. Richard Dawkins, thank you very much sir, for what you have done for reason and critical thinking. Great interview, John McWhorter, he is brilliant.

[@domm6812]

Brilliantly articulate, thoughtful and well reasoned. It is a genuine relief to see that intelligent, rational people still exist in academia and are pushing back against the steamroller tactics of the far left.

[@bertrandrussell894]

Long time fan of both men. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit, John.. We all know you dont care for traveling)

[@frankmcloughlin7076]

Ahh, so that's why he's going on tour then, just to get over his dislike of travelling...

[@davecacace7113]

Great conversation. It sparked so many related topics. I have always had great respect for Richard and his endorsement of John McWhorter was clearly justified. Two intellectuals traversing an extremely interesting topic. Fantastic video!! Thank you

[@Jay_WTF]

Another excellent conversation.

[@gusgrimey1375]

Never heard such an interesting conversation about linguistics before. Wasn’t interested in the subject so far… Thank you 🙏

[@wistfulthinker8801]

I wish I could give a thousand likes. One of the best conversations I’ve heard in a very long time. On the subject of where a word like rock came from, it just makes my mind wander. I thought of a grave stone that hominids called by the name of the person buried there, or even a rock or object above the grave. Years later someone with no knowledge of the person hears that name and generalizes it to the object in general. Maybe an object named after the name of a person who had characteristics that object represented to them. We’ll never really know.

[@PhaseOfMars]

Two of my favorite intellectuals.

[@hypatia3068]

This was brilliant - thanks to both of you!

[@BluesintheNight777]

Great show, Lads! It was informative, penetrating and entertaining. Let's have another as soon as you like

[@jurgenfickentscher9423]

What a wonderful talk and discussion. Thank you very much sharing this. It’s great to see and hear that we can overcome hysteria regarding social interaction if we really want. Thanks again with greetings from a highly delighted German.

[@andrewcunningham6957]

I love listening to John McWhorter and Glenn Louwry hash out culture, but getting an insight into his linguistic interests is a real treat.

[@thomasnewton8997]

Wale songs are very interesting and they are definitely very intelligent I would be slightly surprised we could not learn more from it and I hope we do

[@13olibrown]

This was a fascinating talk. Thank you both for such an engaging and thought stimulating discussion!

[@DaboooogA]

Great link up between these two - two shared domains and they have something insightful to offer in both.

[@julesalexandrou]

A wonderful conversation between two extraordinary thinkers.

[@MarwahBashiry]

Thank you for making this podcast. More John McWhorter, please.

[@fartypants7060]

Great breath of fresh air. I genuinely believe that we lack the language to even talk about "race" in a meaningful way.

[@vhawk1951kl]

*Ca*n one believe falsely or *not* genuinely? There is no such thing as " race" which rather holes " racism" below the waterline

[@Casseopeia777]

Utterly fascinating. Thank you.

[@vineflower]

What an incredible conversation! I wish everyone could see this

[@mikegray8776]

Great conversation. Richard, for all his wisdom and really profound questions, is not a natural interviewer - but once you get past all the awkward pauses, the exchanges are delightful. Of course, John is one of the most captivating speakers of his generation - and brings both wit and entertainment to even the most serious topics.

[@ednigma6526]

Yes, perhaps. Although I'd suggest comparing it with earlier interviews he's conducted: he is now quite a bit older and post-stroke and I think he has slowed down a little. Honestly, I do wonder if the years of being "tip of the spear" in the fight for science and a humanist way of thinking, and acting, have also taken their toll! Certainly, I remember wondering, c. "The God Delusion" and all the debates and arguments and appearances that went after, how he kept going and didn't just feel like he was banging his head against a brick wall. Fortitudine vincimus, indeed. I think it's only fair that he's stepped back a bit, recently, from certain things - he's fought more than his fair share of the fight and I, for one of many, thank him for it. John McWhorter is someone I've only very recently come across but his ability to understand and articulate ideas is remarkable (and remarkably rare, it seems...). A very interesting man.

[@liberationinternational3210]

Wonderful conversation, thank you 🙏🏻

[@FoxxDaBest]

Great discussion on language - nearly missed this because of the video's title!

[@schyllic]

Great conversation. Two of my idols together, what a pleasure. Enlightenment reborn.

[@AndyJarman]

I didn't realise John McWhorter had done so muxh work on this subject, I only knew him from the Glenn Show. Good to hear this.

[@glossary90]

McWhorter wow... I didnt know him but he seems really smart and sensible. A big thinker. Thanks Dawkins for arranging this, it was amazing.

[@josh_prada]

John is wonderful. Thanks for this interview.

[@T1tmouse1]

its absolutely adorable to see how excited these two are to talk to eachother and about these subjects

[@freddydal2226]

All the best for your upcoming journeys Mr Dawkins... I am booked in for event in Oxford.

[@Tamara-qd5dc]

John McWhorter is a thinker, scientist and humanist to his core.

[@willmercury]

Indeed, but what about mantle and his crust?

[@MelissaKnoxwriter]

Two of my favorite thinkers! A real treat. Thank you

[@BoJangles42]

Wonderful conversation, many thanks for sharing it.

[@Cynsjourney]

Great conversation! Very interesting!

[@jocelynconvery3462]

Always so stimulating to hear from you Dr. Dawkins. Thank-you

[@hadleys.4869]

Great interview. I wish it was Longer!

[@PineMartyn]

What an enlightening conversation. Thank you both.

[@iantercero5380]

Please put time stamps! Great conversation!

[@PattisKarriereKarten]

I see JohnMcWhorter and Richard Dawkins, I click. 👍

[@cerebrumpateo8112]

2 great thinkers, what a delight to listen to

[@Dean1000...]

Great and interesting video.

[@soulpresencesa]

Very enlightening indeed. What a pleasure to watch two such clever guys.

[@luckyluckydog123]

what an exceptional guest! I could listen to you both for hours

[@athnealerodney]

Prof. Dawkins is an International Icon... 🏅🎖🏆

[@emilerichard1377]

A fascinating meeting of the minds. Thank you.

[@estrafalario5612]

36:34 I know you all came here for the linguistics, but the Woke Racism topic starts at this point 😊. But yeah, don't miss the first part, it isn't filling dialogue but really interesting points ✌️

[@beemo9]

It's great listening to 2 top thinkers who admire each other learn from each other.

[@drpooky70]

Great job. First time I've seen McWhorter. I really like his style of speech and ideas.

[@wtfamiactuallyright1823]

Great conversation. I really miss the Glenn Lowry show with these two, pay per view stuff got in the way.

[@lenloving]

I would love to hear part two with continued musings about linguistics and evolution!

[@gokhanrz]

This was a beautiful and brain stimulating conversation. Thanks! 😊 And some thoughts: I think that the first words should have been created due to instinctual necessity, like warning and where the food is or what kind of food there is. For example, humankind is not as good in running away from danger as other animals; birds can fly away, mice can dive in a hole , antelope can run really fast; so, without this kind of advantage, humankind needed different sounds for different dangers; like rock (it's falling down the hill, run parallel to the hill), flood (water is coming, run to the hill), tree (tree is falling, run away), lion (run up the tree). Also, for hunting and gathering, antelope (this way, there is antelope), berries (that way) and tree (we are getting sunstroke). 😄 Of course, I know that this is pure speculation and was more probably suggested by other people, but in my opinion, when we are searching for the origin of an invention, we should first take necessity and basic instincts into consideration. When it comes to Homo Erectus sailing across the sea, we should take changes in the geological structures into consideration; there are some examples in history where the waters were shallower than today or even frozen and people followed animals or ran away from something or searched for more livable places walking across the sea.

[@EmperorsNewWardrobe]

Really enjoying this channel, Richard!

[@MichaelMims-p9h]

This is fantastic, as always with Richard.

[@ld844]

So interesting. I write and speak 3 languages, fluently and without problems. I speak a fourth which is not written but only spoken. What I have realized is that a language is not only a language but a window into a different culture and that is something more magical than the language itself.

[@johnnydawson7675]

Thank you, gentlemen, for such an interesting talk.

[@marceauratard6869]

2 of my favorites finally meet, this was great

[@bastiaanvanbeek]

I must admit that when I read "Woke" and "Racism" in the title of this video I was a bit turned off and wanted to skip it, since those topics are so boring and annoying. But I enjoyed just watching McWhorter and Dawkins in conversation as for the intellectual and academic side.

[@jeremyeblack4987]

Golly gee wiz thanks for being so enlightened

[@georgekitchen7046]

​@@jeremyeblack4987was your response neccessary? What was the point of it?

[@jeremyeblack4987]

@@georgekitchen7046 Honestly, at the time it seemed relevant, but now I'm not sure why.

[@georgekitchen7046]

@@jeremyeblack4987 haha

[@rmac3217]

It's only boring to the woke racists, because the truth of the fact that woke is racist both ways. They are racist to the ppl they are self appointed guardians of, as if they are disabled, however they still don't do anything for them apart from virtue signal their own morality. Also racist to their own history they see themselves as not part of, simply for claiming to be said guardians. Again doing nothing about it though apart from virtue signal, not moving away and continuing to benefit from said racist society.

[@raymondknapp7888]

Love really intelligent people exchanging and educating me to their specialties

[@alexandragrace8164]

I’m Australian and Aboriginal people have been on this land an estimated 60 to 120,000 years. There’s about 500 different language groups (or there were at the time of the invasion of the first fleet and now there are fewer). I’m interested in how and when language developed and how it spread among the many human civilisations!

[@stevenbrady440]

Great talk. Thanks professor McWorter.

[@Erika-bl7sj]

Great pleasure to listen to those two brilliant scholars

[@AndrewHelgeCox]

The audio version of this went out as a repeat of the previous episode with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I wasn't sure where to inform you about this so I'm making this comment here. I observed the problem in the pocket casts app.

[@andrewlim9345]

Thanks, this is a thoughtful and provoking dialogue.

[@YT2024Hayward]

You guys are my two favorite humans 💚💚💚

[@kindcakeco]

Thank you, Prof Dawkins, for The Selfish Gene, which, along with Carl Sagan's Cosmos, gave me the universe at age 21. Now, at age 50, you've given me John McWhorter!

[@allanflippin2453]

I nearly marked this video "not interested" and considered telling KZbin to not recommend the channel. But I looked around some first, then listened to the video and I'm glad I didn't "cancel" it. Basically, I "cancel" any video that talks about "woke", and I check to see if the channel that put it on seems to traffic in that stuff. I'm a liberal in the US and among other liberals that I know, the word "woke" is almost never used. Instead, the emphasis is on treating people decently even if they differ from us. If somebody DOES talk about "woke" it will be the right wingers or religious bigots who are framing strawman cases to show how liberals are stupid, dangerous or both! For me, removing videos about "woke" and channels that want to talk about it is a fairly quick and accurate way to remove content I don't want to waste my time on! In this case, I would have made a big mistake. Thanks for speaking with Mr. McWhorter and for a having a very interesting discussion!

[@thecuriousidiot]

I agree, labels are thrown around too easily and can be very polarizing. The left does it too with 'far right' or right wing to refer to people such as John. We are expected to start an article with lots of preconceived ideas. I even see articles in the media that remind you at the start that so and so once posted a video on the far right platform....As you have done, we need to forget the labels and examine what people say. In his book, Woke Racism, he explains why he chose that title. He wouldn't usually attack people with labels. For me, he is a voice of reason. His argument that the current ethos about white patriarchy all being rabidly racist and non whites are all victims is racist in itself and not helpful regarding the great good, is very compelling. I thought the book The New Puritans was also very good, a book that talks about many topics in John's book.

[@twntwrs]

You seem to have missed entirely how Dawkins and McWhorter here coincide on how wokery is precisely when liberals are at their most stupid and dangerous...

[@emailvonsour]

lmao imagine being a liberal and a man

[@siggyincr7447]

@@twntwrs It really depends on what you call a liberal. What was considered a classical liberal until not that long ago would be considered a moderate or even center right these days. The word "liberal" has become synonymous with "leftist" which isn't really the case. In fact "woke" ideology is very illiberal. For a while there were a few classical liberals who were trying to get people to stop calling the far left liberals but to no avail. So to say that wokery is some sort of offshoot of liberalism is playing into this misunderstanding of liberalism. Google "Liberalism" and tell me how the far left has anything to do with that.

[@maganzo]

I like John, haven't seen him long time. This man thinks clearly.

[@AllIsWellaus]

Lol. You really reached high in your compliment. The art of speaking clearly. 😉🫣

[@rogerward801]

On regularly with Glenn Loury

[@alexlalov7152]

Two of my favourite people in a conversation!

[@nzsigaus]

I love the idea that a foreign dialect becomes a different language once you stop getting beaten up for imitating it. Incidentally, the hybrid zone to which you refer is probably Chorthippus parallelus/erythropus in the Pyrenees, though there are of course examples of orthopteran zones in the US too (e.g. Gryllus pennsylvanicus/firmus in the Appalachians)

[@0zyris]

Regarding crossing large bodies of water - to develop the intention of "emigrating" before they built the boat and crossed, which they would need to have done before they could communicate it, they would have needed to know that some land waited for them on the other side. Which would mean someone would have to have done it before and returned. It seems far more likely that they were sailing locally as part of their regular life, probably as a fishing community, and got blown off course in a storm, ending up on the foreign shore. Alternately, a hurricane might have swept a bunch of people off the shore (which has happened often in recent times) and deposited them on the new one. This would likely have happened multiple times with most perishing in the process. From the point that a group established itself on the foreign shore, it's language would have begun to slowly diverge from the original one.