
What Google’s ‘Anti-Diversity’ Manifesto Can Teach Us About Silent Opposition
And why that matters if you’re a social media activist.
Look, I don’t know Eric Weinstein, but I know Eric Weinsteins.

On Twitter he claims to oppose the statement that women can’t code as well as men. But, he doesn’t think women should stand up for themselves if that mentality exists in their workplace. hmm…
The Eric Weinsteins of the world, in the abstract, believe they are progressive. But, when confronted with the inevitable uncomfortable situations that get stirred up during the fight for equality, they silently stand with the side of the oppressor. This is something we encounter sometimes when we pitch the concept of Paycheck to the potential users.
“Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.” — Ginette Sagan
You should try to sway the Silent Opposition.
But not with that quote.
Online trolls are a waste of your time. Trust me. I fight them for sport. But if you’re using social media to further a cause, know that the silent opposition is a potential ally waiting to be courted. Why?
They are not fully convinced.
If they were, they would be screaming from the rooftops that men work harder than women! But they don’t. Instead they may say something like ‘if women really are paid less, why would anyone hire men?’ How you respond establishes their comfort level to discuss the touchy subject further. Engage gently, and try to figure out where the paradigm shift needs to happen.
They don’t know who to trust.
Fake news is real. Most of the media we consume has some sort of bias. So it’s very easy to make a case for just about anything, and link an article to back it up.
- In favor of legalization of marijuana? Share this. Against? Share this.
- Climate change? Real! Hoax!
- Restrictive gun laws make us safer! Right-to-carry laws make us safer!
Dig deeper, beyond the basic talking points and find new angles to an issue. Are your statistics constantly attacked? Try a personal anecdote instead.
They don’t want to be called a bigot.
In the era of #resist, anyone who remotely echoes the rhetoric of 45’s following gets lumped in with the Alt-Right extremists. Ignorance has such a negative connotation, but it means that someone has presented you with a teaching moment. Educate them on the issue through compassion for their ignorance.
Someone who does this effectively is Bernie Sanders.
They are not sure they care.
And that’s fair. No one is passionate about every cause. But we’re not asking everyone to be a champion. We want allies. If you can engage a member of the silent opposition in conversation, and make clear that you do not view them as the oppressor, that’s a win! They’ll now feel safe in the discussion, and will engage in it more often with others.
We would love to hear your thoughts on the Silent Opposition. Have you ever changed someone’s mind on a polarizing issue? Tell us how!
