Why do we Speak up only when a Problem reaches Us?

[Su-asa]

Most of the times I just wonder that sometimes when a problem affect other people, many of us just watch and move on because we feel that it doesn’t concern us but  when the same thing now happen to us or someone that is close to us, we then want everybody to listen and pay attention to us.

The fact that many people ignore others in society means there will always be disunity among them, and we shouldn't blame the government for this because when there's no love in society, things won't go in order.

One reason why most people always mind their business might be that they must have helped someone one way or the other, and those who they helped were not grateful.

The truth is that most people have a kind heart, but the attitude of those they helped changed everything. As for me, I love minding my business, but that doesn't mean that if I'm capable of helping, I won't.

[Opiate32]

I want to believe one reason that keep people for being silent is that many have come to see speaking up as a big risk with little or no chance of changing anything.  When people repeatedly bring up concerns and see no meaningful response, some people eventually choose to protect their own peace instead. This is also a difference between staying silent and because you feel powerless and decide to stay silent because a problem does not affect you personally. The second one can make it difficult to build a collective pressure that is need for change.

[Juicyhome]

What do you think is the reason behind why people behave this way? Is it truly out of fear, lack of trust or just the way we have become used to living?

It's natural phenomenon,  many people are created that why, while some people are mute over event because of personal gain and favoursm. Some people like minded their business because they don't want people to see them as opposition, they just want to enjoy life with family without complain.  That's not life , the evil you fail to fight today might come around and kill you tomorrow,  it's better to speak and nothing changes than to stay silent and nothing still change,  when you speak up against the evil in the society,nature will be fair to you, and don't always speak when it's against your interest, speak because everyone are affected.

Let's use corrupt leaders for example,  the people benefiting from corrupt leaders feel God is fair to them, because they're eating from corrupt tabel that has Emproverished the people, when table turns tomorrow and they're not longer with the corrupt leaders,  they start setting ringlight to speak against corrupt leaders and how it has affected the society,  that's not agitation its hypocrisy.

[Princess Leah]

This is why the economy of Nigeria is what it is now because those that are enjoying from the government of Tinubu are not speaking up due to tribalism, they tend to ignore the sufferings of the common and less privileges just because the system favors them. This has become a norm in this country not just Nigeria but all over the world, it's a sickness in the society that is affecting us slowly and we have refused to talk about it,  so I'm happy seeing you create this thread because it's one of the key factors that affects us a people and country.

One of uncles do say!, "if you speak up you will die and if you don't you will still die so why won't you speak up when things are going out of hand", those that are in the right position to speak are being bribe somethings to shut them up. I have discovered that anyone who is a beneficiary of any bad government or systems usually don't speak up because of the benefits they are deriving hence it because difficult to speak up even in the face of intimation.

Well, tribalism is a reason for not speaking up but sometimes it's not about tribalism cause there are many people that are tired of the situation of the country to them it's not about who's the president or whether he's from same tribe with them but they want change, they want the voice of the common men to be heard but can't speak up cause they're scared of being arrested.

 What your uncle said is the truth but how many people are willing to die, to some it's like dieing for nothing since their death won't make any difference. However am not in support of those who refused to speak up cause they're bribes to, they're even worst than the oppressors.

[Xackie]

This topic literally explained what happened in the Osun state election.  We saw how rich men of high caliber where wailing about the election rigging because it's happenings to one of them example is davido and his uncle. But when it comes to normal general elections they keep silent as if it's none of their business. I was just laughing seeing Davido reporting Apc on X because he is now battling that same corruption he was in. Now that their election has finished and his uncle won baba ran back to Tinubu and has kept quiet since then , he even said he is no longer interested in Nigeria politics anymore. Hypocrisy at the best.  What I have understand about humans is that you can't complain about a bad system if it is favoring you. This is why our country is still bad and hasn't moved forward.