The reason I can speak out against dumb things isn't so much that I have more insight or moral courage. It's more because I happen to be uniquely insulated from the danger of offending stupid people.

Someone associated with a brand selling cookies, for example, can't publicly attack things that dumb people like. Dumb people buy lots of cookies. But it's safe for me to. If I offend dumb people and they don't apply to YC, that's actually good for YC.