Thread by @JulieSLalonde

I am often privately called upon by military members, campus employees, government officials, etc. to go public with something because it's "safer" for me.

I cannot emphasize enough how painfully inaccurate that assumption is.

Why ask someone who is entirely self-employed with no team, no budget & no infrastructure, to take one for the team while you have a permanent job, health insurance, paid holidays & a union? Not to mention public support on your side.

Are there advantages to being an underdog? Yes!

I can, & do, lecture on the benefits of going hard in the paint because there's no bureaucracy to hold you back.

But the idea that people like me have "nothing to lose" while we're getting 1000s of death threats is insulting.

If you identify as progressive and are miserable (but cozy) inside an institution, please think long and hard about calling on "outspoken people" to do your dirty work.

In doing so, you're often recreating the same inequitable conditions you claim to be so upset about.

And if it is absolutely unavoidable & it's clear that a "third party outspoken person" is the ideal messenger, leverage the privilege of your cozy conditions to support that person in doing that work.

Offer to filter out their inbox. Pay for their security. Buy them some dinner!

I often call on people to be brave enough to say things with their whole chest & I'm entirely comfortable making that demand because I'm doing it, day in & day out.

I can't sit at any more tables with people on the Sunshine List who turn to me & say "You can say that. I can't."

I have to take time off paid work to be at this meeting, you're getting paid to be here & you want me to make a sacrifice? I already sacrificed! Meet me halfway.