Friction was typified by general criticism of an action without constructive suggestions to move forward, often causing negative emotions among participants.

Stalling and friction are linked: efforts stalled when friction accumulated or when the fear of criticism led to no activity. Likewise, avoiding stalling by making a decision could result in friction when others disagreed.

Given that marginalized groups frequently lack protection during disagreements, we often try to understand how to scaffold conflicts in a way that best protects these groups.

Though the presence of conflict in socially just design may seem like an impediment, it is actually a healthy sign that a project is tackling topics worthy of debate. This is especially true for marginalized people, who have “interests in asking questions [about power, oppression, and inequality], and dominant groups have interests in not hearing them” [3].