Part 6/7:
The Reaction from the Audience
B Tund’s assessment of Hopkins’s views reflects a broader conversation about the state of free speech in modern society. He complimented her eloquence and noted the humor she usefully infused into her critiques. Tund argues that individuals tend to retreat into echo chambers and avoid opposing ideas due to the fear of their beliefs being challenged.
He contended that withdrawing from debates or silencing voices leads to ignorance and stagnation. The metaphor he employed was striking: banning offensive speech is akin to demanding an ever-shrinking worldview. In his view, engaging with diverse, sometimes uncomfortable opinions is fundamental in a democratic society.