Maybe. They could be fearing being disliked, estranged, or an argument for having the "wrong" beliefs. (Politics, religion, computer languages.)

Much like gossip, politics is pack violence and order by other means, and is usable by people who have less physical power but more social influence. If you don't have either physical and social power, then you're dismissed as not a threat and ripe to be stepped-on. Gossip is often a political attack technique to take-down a physically-strong leader.