Censorhip is a slippery slope and leads to intellectual dullening of the spirit and always ultimately destroys what it seeks to protect. Discussion permits the development of ideas and the occasional decline of a discussion into a shouting match is the price you pay for for having a free exchange of ideas. Of course there's a time and place for everything and you might not always be able or in the mood to discuss your differing points of view. You should always be able to say: "not now" and if the other party persists in challenging you, that's bad form on their part. But even the PITA types that always vehemently express their opinions serve a purpose. They make you consider your own opinions and when you consider you're right your opinion is all the stronger for it, if you conclude after consideration that you were mistaken, even better, you get to form a new and better opinion. The PITA types even act as a role model: "whatever I do, I don't want to behave like that rectal orifice"

“The clash of ideas is the sound of freedom.” -Ladybird Johnson

"The clash of ideas brings forth the spark of truth." -?