While I certainly emphasize with the anxiety of publicly expressing an unpopular opinion, I believe it is, especially in times like these, your moral duty to endure in spite of the repercussions and speak your mind. Even though I went to Stanford and had direct access to Milgrom's famous prison experiment, the lesson from it didnt hit home until many years later I read this article: https://aeon.co/ideas/the-desire-to-fit-in-is-the-root-of-al...
Now, the phrase "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to remain silent" resonates with me.
Speaking out matters. So does when, where, and how you speak out. And that is something best discussed privately.
I'd have much more to say on how privacy and anonymity are inextricably linked, but I'll let the EFF say it: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/01/right-anonymity-matter...
> This phrase does not mean "All good men should continually natter on". It is also your moral duty to present a cogent argument
What I was trying to say is there will be times where you are not as prepared as you like. It's not about presenting an airtight, cogent argument, it's about having the courage to say something like, "Officer, stop beating the shit out of this guy in a wheelchair. He's clearly isn't resisting and you're being a dick."
I see these two subjects as being inseparable. Before I feel comfortable asserting a dissenting opinion in a public forum, I would much rather discuss the subject among my peers where I don't feel I will be immediately eviscerated for a poorly constructed thought. If I don't feel that I have any privacy, I'm more likely to be subject to chilling effects.