People remain silent for fear of being targeted and bullied by the self-appointed arbiters of justice, worried that they may be ostracized by others- i.e. “canceled”. The number one need for people is acceptance. The number one fear is rejection. Cancellation plays to both. Going against public opinion can lead to some painful social costs and consequences. We need to swap out cancel culture for a conversation culture, or counsel culture where we can actually listen to and learn from each other.
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"People stand silent for fear of being targeted and bullied by the self-appointed arbiters of justice, worried that they may be ostracized by others." This quote captures the widespread apprehension about speaking out, driven by the fear of social backlash.
America's Growing Self-Censorship
"From the 1950s to today, the percentage of Americans who don't feel free to express their views has tripled." This statistic highlights a troubling trend towards increased self-censorship and a decline in the perceived freedom to express one's opinions openly.
Society's Self-Imposed Silence
"Think about that: over 90 percent of you report that you're self-censoring, and over 40 percent of you are doing it often!"
The Paralysis of Public Opinion
"Eighty-four percent of Americans today say that the fear of retaliation or criticism causing people not to share their views is a serious problem."
Unveiling the Spiral Theory
"The spiral-of-silence theory describes the tendency of people to muzzle themselves when they think public opinion might be against them."
Additional Resources
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)
FIRE is dedicated to defending and promoting free speech rights for all Americans. Founded as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, FIRE has expanded its advocacy to include off-campus free speech and legal defense, becoming the leading defender of fundamental rights on college campuses through programs like individual rights advocacy, legal support, and policy reform.
EFF's Tracking Global Online Censorship project shines a light on content moderation practices by social media platforms and how they impact freedom of expression worldwide. The project aims to raise awareness about corporate censorship and empower users and marginalized groups to fight suppression of free speech.
The NCAC has been a defender of free expression for nearly 50 years, serving a wide range of groups including students, teachers, artists, writers, and activists. They offer programs like the Youth Free Expression Program and the Arts & Culture Advocacy Program to support individuals facing censorship disputes and to promote dialogue around controversial issues.
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