An interesting editorial comment in the 20 January edition of The Tablet touching on the way in which opinions expressed by someone that are contrary to the accepted ‘orthodoxy’ (a word I use with some trepidation) are censored and condemned merely because they are contrary to the accepted ‘orthodoxy’. It is a phenomenon we often see in contemporary public discourse, even in Australia, where in order to further some particular cause, anyone who holds a differing opinion is silenced. It is as if the mere existence of a differing opinion is perceived as a threat to the cause being promoted and like all threats must be removed.

As the editorial points out “the correct response to a bad argument is a better one, not censorship and condemnation”. In other words, if someone disagrees with you, engage with their argument and attempt to convince with a better argument. Dismissing them just because they disagree with you will not achieve your goal.