Of course, all of that is true. I’d go further and say there’s basically no way a vague narrative that you’re a good person would be enough. What I’m trying to say is that the fear of the consequences of speaking out should be balanced with the fear of the consequences of looking complicit if the truth comes out and you didn’t speak out. Talking about how advantageous it can be to ignore abuse, or how hard it is to speak out (and implicitly, how forgivable it would be) is tipping that scale in the wrong direction.
I do agree with that (As mentioned in my earlier comment, I still lean in the direction of deleting comments like the initial downvoted one in the future).
But as worded I think I (at least sort of) disagree with your comment, in particular:
Second, I don’t think the pattern can be deliberately changed except by creating a sense of security that starts out false but becomes true once enough people have it.
I don’t think this is the mechanism by which anyone becomes safe. I think the sense of security doesn’t add up to “actual safety” even if 100% of the people have it.
I should’ve been more clear—by safety I meant safety of making a (true) accusation, rather than direct safety from actual abuse. I think the latter can only follow from the former.
Of course, all of that is true. I’d go further and say there’s basically no way a vague narrative that you’re a good person would be enough. What I’m trying to say is that the fear of the consequences of speaking out should be balanced with the fear of the consequences of looking complicit if the truth comes out and you didn’t speak out. Talking about how advantageous it can be to ignore abuse, or how hard it is to speak out (and implicitly, how forgivable it would be) is tipping that scale in the wrong direction.
I do agree with that (As mentioned in my earlier comment, I still lean in the direction of deleting comments like the initial downvoted one in the future).
But as worded I think I (at least sort of) disagree with your comment, in particular:
I don’t think this is the mechanism by which anyone becomes safe. I think the sense of security doesn’t add up to “actual safety” even if 100% of the people have it.
I should’ve been more clear—by safety I meant safety of making a (true) accusation, rather than direct safety from actual abuse. I think the latter can only follow from the former.
Ah, I think that makes sense.