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Showerthought: I used to think shouting down a speaker was a win, but a protest at my school last fall changed that.
At a talk by a conservative writer at UC Berkeley, our group planned to drown him out with chants, but a professor I respect just stood silently with a sign that read 'I Disagree, And I'm Listening.' It made our yelling seem kind of pointless, honestly. When did the goal shift from being heard to just making sure nobody else can hear?
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beth2761mo ago
Remember thinking I was so clever shouting down a guest speaker in college, but looking back I just looked like a confused goose.
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john_fisher1mo ago
What if the loudest way to win an argument is to be the only one willing to be quiet? That professor's silent sign probably made more people stop and think than any chant, because it showed real confidence. Sometimes shutting up is the strongest move.
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willowg881mo ago
Three seconds of silence probably did more work than any of those chants ever managed. Shouting just makes people double down on their own side, but quiet confidence? That gets under your skin in a different way. Ever notice how the loudest person in the room is usually the most insecure?
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