Wikipedia

I do understand there are some mores (or taboos) that we commonly will find a rationality for, even when there isn't a logical reason for it. A big one is the emphasis of high-contact sports programs in our education system. A lot of lives get ruined (and a few ended) every year to gridiron football injuries in the US, and yet it is difficult to imagine ending football programs in our high-schools and colleges (even if to switch to sports that involve less risk).

There was a study about instinctive mores, featuring the story of Julie and Mark (an adult sister and brother who go camping, have sex, decide not to do it again, but are not harmed by the encounter), and not only did subjects assert such a coupling was morally wrong, but would seek out reasons to justify their belief, even if it didn't fit the specific circumstances. Similarly, it's a common assumption that gay sexual relations between relatives is taboo, even though the commonly understood purpose of the proscription (to avoid conceiving children with birth defects) is not actually possible in the relationship.

For this reason, some social problems that exist (such as the social isolation of boys and young men that puts them at risk of turning to the alt-right) that we are disinclined to address (I've heard the sentiment before: sure, they're suffering, but fuck those guys ) because we have a collective drive to see those issues in a specific way, such as holding contempt for teenage boys as a demographic, even when we know it will drive them into organized hate groups.

In the spiral of silence, important minority opinions can go unvoiced, leading to a distorted sense of public opinion. This can create a climate of fear and conformity over time. Similarly, in the prisoner’s dilemma, mutual distrust can lead to decisions that harm all parties involved, such as missed opportunities for cooperation. Both ultimately undermine collective well-being by preventing optimal group outcomes.

this is the first graph i've seen where time is on the y-axis instead of the x-axis.

that decision makes me immensely uncomfortable.

Am I a weirdo on for getting louder when I think I my opinion is in the minority? Or is that just a white privilege reaction?

This here is the reason why I think that, when dealing with "trolls" of the political influence campaign sort rather than the "just wants to get people mad" sort, the classic advice of "dont feed the trolls" doesnt work. If people wanting to influence public opinion say a bunch of things, and are unchallenged, then anyone coming into the space they are at work in will get the impression that theirs is the sentiment that that community holds and disengage if they dont agree, ceding the space to the influence campaign. If instead those opposed to the influence campaign try to drown out the trolls, then at least they dont appear to represent a consensus opinion.

I work in a field closely related to gov’t work, very closely. I stopped talked about my politics, when I was an outspoken supporter of workers and human rights before, when Biden tanked his debate. I also weigh the pros and cons of saying anything here, too.

But, it’s not just minority now, although I am the minority at work… it’s gov’t censorship and retaliation against those that don’t toe the line.

i dont like the spiral of silence and anyone who does should shut up about it!

Ooh I quite like this Theory