This is true. Another reason I think public fears of professional retaliation are overstated is that “I’m afraid of professional retaliation” is generally taken as a legitimate reason to hide, whereas lots of other fears are not, and so many other fears get justified in terms that will be well-received. Like, if saying “I’m posting anonymously because I’m afraid of being looked at funny” is seen as cowardly but saying “I’m posting anonymously because I’m afraid of professional retaliation” is seen as sympathetic, then I expect both types of people will claim to fear professional retaliation.
(I do think EA institutions have a totally-normal-for-white-collar-professional degree of retaliation for not toeing the line. I just think the discourse here overweights how much of it comes from, like, posts on this forum, whereas all the cases I know about were because of more substantive causes like materially supporting a disfavored institution, or normal bureaucratic power struggles, or something.)
This is true. Another reason I think public fears of professional retaliation are overstated is that “I’m afraid of professional retaliation” is generally taken as a legitimate reason to hide, whereas lots of other fears are not, and so many other fears get justified in terms that will be well-received. Like, if saying “I’m posting anonymously because I’m afraid of being looked at funny” is seen as cowardly but saying “I’m posting anonymously because I’m afraid of professional retaliation” is seen as sympathetic, then I expect both types of people will claim to fear professional retaliation.
(I do think EA institutions have a totally-normal-for-white-collar-professional degree of retaliation for not toeing the line. I just think the discourse here overweights how much of it comes from, like, posts on this forum, whereas all the cases I know about were because of more substantive causes like materially supporting a disfavored institution, or normal bureaucratic power struggles, or something.)
Oh, that makes total sense to me and I now feel silly for not believing this before I read your comment.