The attractive thing about the outrage cycle (from a parent's POV) is that they can Do Something! They can write or show up or post to stop this Horrible Thing!

And then the school board / city hall / whatever can Pledge Action (or usually inaction — "Wait, they don't want us putting WHAT in WHERE? Seriously?! Why would we ever do that? Sure, tell them we're not going to, make 'em happy. Next item!") and Everybody Is Happy.

Okay, obviously not the group that's been vilified and now has yet another stone hanging around their necks that was never real to begin with.

And then the outrage cycle continues to the next thing...