Nevertheless, according to Chang Le-chi's description, NGOs always want to keep their image of "being afraid of becoming politically sullied." They stand somewhat aloof from authorities. They even purposefully maintain a safe distance from political figures with similar ideas, and they forbid currently unployed essential staff from running for public office, to prevent opportunists from turning social activism into a springboard for amassing personal political resources.
不過，正如消基會章樂綺形容的，民間團體總希望保持「政治上有潔癖」的形象，除了對官方若即若離外，即使對理念相投的政治人物，也刻意維持「有點黏又不會太黏」的安全距離，甚至不准在檯面上的現任重要幹部競選公職，以防有心人將社運作為累積個人政治資源的踏板。