If you don't speak out, you're complicit?

Personally, I disagree with this statement as an absolute. While I can agree with the statement under the right conditions, I mostly see it being used to promote dichotomous thinking. Do you agree, disagree?

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TeresaRudolph71 · 51-55, F

Possibly. Or they may feel that they will just make things worse by saying something, because they might just be playing into someone's hand. Some situations are complicated, and some people can be very manipulative and challenging to deal with.

I also liked what someone else said. They may have a secret plan to handle the situation, but saying anything would ruin it.

I'm not sure what you meant by dichotomous thinking though. 🤔

TheSeptikSkeptik · 46-50, M

@TeresaRudolph71 What if somebody is just ignorant to the entire subject? Should they just blindly choose sides without having the necessary information to properly form an opinion?
I'm just saying that the phrase isn't always an absolute and is often used in arguments like "If you don't agree with me on x, then you are a y." It's basically the same as saying, "If you are not with us, you are against us." Which is dichotomous thinking. It is basically creating a false dichotomy between those who agree with you and every one else, including those who are ignorant to the cause. I just see it used a lot by people who are blatantly wrong about their cause or people who fail to see nuance. My question actually originates from one specific example- A 9/11 "truther" covered in signs on the street yells this out to people in public which he accuses every one else of being stupid for not believing his claims. Well not his claims, popular 9/11 "truther" claims.