Part 8/14:
A significant point addresses the timing of such statements. Many believe that figures like Maher and Peterson are only now speaking out against certain issues because societal norms are shifting. For years, critics say these figures remained silent or silent publicly, even if privately they held different opinions. Once social acceptability turns, they swing their public stance, creating a sense of political opportunism or duplicity.
This leads to the larger theme of "cultural gaslighting," where public figures claim genuine conviction in their opinions, but their timing and language suggest they are primarily reacting to changing social landscapes to protect or advance their careers.