In an old Simpsons episode, Springfield’s citizens compete in a film competition. The resident business magnate, Mr. Burns, submits a terrible entry but finds other ways to convince the jury. When prompted by a fellow judge as to why he voted for Burns’ movie, comedian Krusty the Clown says: “Let’s just say it moved me…TO A BIGGER HOUSE!” Immediately, Krusty catches himself: “Oops, I said the quiet part loud and the loud part quiet.”
What makes for a great moment of TV is often awkward in real life. When former Google CEO Eric Schmidt gave a talk to Stanford students, he encouraged them to make TikTok clones using generative AI in case the US bans it—and then stealing all the existing content off the platform. He, too, said the quiet part out loud: “If it took off, then you’d hire a whole bunch of lawyers to go clean the mess up,” and “if nobody uses your product, it doesn’t matter that you stole all the content.” Wow!
The only time saying the quiet part out loud works? When it’s done with intention. Like when NYU professor Scott Galloway used the incredible far-reaching stage of a TED talk not to present himself as an expert but to tell the audience that America is waging a war on its young people, who earn less than past generations, pay more for college, and will never be able to afford a home.
Watch for the people who are saying the quiet part out loud. Was that a slip-up or a rare chance to reflect? Respect the ones who dare to speak up—and remember when it’s your turn.