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Dictators & Dictatorship

Dictators & Dictatorship

What are your thoughts about the following quote?

Be alert that dictators have always played on the natural human tendency to blame others and to oversimplify. And don't regard yourself as a guardian of freedom unless you respect and preserve the rights of people you disagree with to free, public, unhampered Expression -- Gerard K. O'Neill, 2081

Dictatorship and Dictators

Sure, I agree with the quote in theory. I don't think it means, however, that you need to remain silent when others are expressing their ideas and thoughts. You have every right to think the people you disagree with are ignorant (lacking some knowledge) on a particular subject, and try to counter what they are saying with your own unhampered expression (though it may be just as ignorant in their eyes).

Some have thought that they can say anything and no one can call them out on what they say. Some accuse others of restricting their free expression rights if anyone has a counter argument to something they say.

That is not free expression. If you say something someone else thinks is stupid, or wrong expect someone to throw your argument right back in your face and not necessarily respect your ideas (but at the same time they may respect your right to state those ideas).