> The most clear-cut example is that of medical discussions; medical commentary or speculation from under-qualified individuals can do real harm.
The same could be said for credentialed experts, especially in the medical field. Taking steps to prevent users from freely discussing topics under the guise of protecting them can prevent unpopular but correct opinions from seeing the light of day. If somebody says something you can refute, then correct them in a civil way. That's how lots of people learn and grow - they put their theories out into the world and see how well they hold up to scrutiny. Making it "less accepting" to say something you believe is true because you're not sufficiently credentialed is actively suppressing free and open discussion.
A lot of popular opinions are also terribly wrong. I'm referring to the fact that popular opinion should not prevent people from reading an alternate viewpoint to begin with. If all we're allowed to read and discuss are popular opinions, there's a lot of potentially valuable information we're missing. People here can read, discuss facts, debunk falsehoods and make up their own minds.
The same could be said for credentialed experts, especially in the medical field. Taking steps to prevent users from freely discussing topics under the guise of protecting them can prevent unpopular but correct opinions from seeing the light of day. If somebody says something you can refute, then correct them in a civil way. That's how lots of people learn and grow - they put their theories out into the world and see how well they hold up to scrutiny. Making it "less accepting" to say something you believe is true because you're not sufficiently credentialed is actively suppressing free and open discussion.