The speaker feels safe because their podcast has a relatively low audience size, making them less likely to be targeted for criticism or labeled as 'oily' or 'patronizing' (爹味). They believe that being under the radar allows them to speak freely without attracting negative attention.
The speaker plans to avoid expressing strong opinions and instead align with mainstream views to protect themselves. They also intend to minimize speaking in Beijing-accented Mandarin, which is often associated with being patronizing, and instead use Suzhou dialect or other less criticized accents.
The speaker recounted a disturbing incident in 2016 while working on a campaign for Tsingtao Beer. A male colleague from another agency made a highly inappropriate and lecherous reaction upon hearing that Liu Yan was the brand ambassador, which the speaker described as the only genuinely creepy laugh they had ever heard in real life.
The speaker believes the online environment is overly critical and unforgiving, where even minor mistakes or associations (like playing a controversial game) can lead to backlash and loss of followers. They emphasize the importance of being cautious and the need for greater tolerance and understanding among audiences.
The speaker references Tang Bohu, a historical figure known for pretending to be foolish, as a strategy to avoid criticism. They suggest that adopting a similar approach by 'playing dumb' might help them avoid negative judgments from their audience.