I would argue that that is your perception of what is going on. The point of me broadcasting my views is to communicate what is socially acceptable to me, that’s how society works. We don’t have a contingent of out and proud pedophiles doing marches in the street, right? Why is that? Because it’s anti-social behavior that is taboo within our established society. Just because people are (also) typing this stuff out on computers doesn’t mean they’re not doing anything to affect change in the real world.
I understand your choice to not participate in what you consider to be moral grandstanding, but the issue I have is with you, as a white male, tearing down other white males for standing up for the advancement of women and people of color. Not all advocates are created equal, and as infuriating as it may be, my advocacy matters less than your advocacy. Peer approval matters.
Here’s an excerpt I found that does a good job of explaining why your opinion is important:
WHY MALE ADVOCATES?
The answer to this question matters more than one might think. To be successful, advocacy efforts should involve explaining why male advocates are important. Here are two reasons to help lay a solid foundation:
Reason 1: Increasing diverse participation is not a women’s issue (or an issue relevant only to other underrepresented groups). Diversity and inclusivity are business issues, and they are human issues. We know that businesses profit from the many benefits that diverse perspectives bring to innovation and company competitiveness.
In addition, majority group members (e.g., men, white people, able-bodied people) also stand to benefit from increased diversity. For instance, in the case of gender diversity, men, not just women, are held to restrictive gender standards that limit their potential and the kinds of things they are able to do (e.g., spend more time with family). Since these are issues that affect everyone, everyone should be working on them.
Reason 2: Men currently hold a majority of formal and informal positions of power in tech, so they are able to have a great deal of influence on the current climate–whether it be in subtle everyday moments or in changing larger systems. In fact, men in tech are often in a better position to influence these dynamics compared to most women. The importance of using one’s formal or informal power is also true of other advocacy efforts.
I mean, sure, fine, refrain from speaking up when you see something that’s wrong if it’s on the internet, but don’t tear down other men from communicating that what’s going on is not okay by them. How are things ever supposed to get better if we shame people into silence when they try to help?
