People may have grown up or lived in favelas, or at least have families and friends who did, so their emotional connection tends to be personal as well as conceptual.

cariocas are very open to new ideas and opinions - culturally, syncretism has played an important part in the development of many aspects of rio de janeiro - this said, certain topics are not a welcome topic of conversation or discussion.

No matter how educated or conscientious one may feel or try to be  about favela history and culture, a visitor should always defer to the knowledge and views of a carioca, who by definition has a much deeper and broader understanding.

External opinions about favelas are very likely to cause offence, or at least discomfort, even when a carioca does not openly say so.