I was sort-of giving this the side-eye, until midway through where the author clearly defines the difference between using the phrase to mean "I can think what I want" vs. "you have to take what I think seriously." - Jennifer Dittrich

Yep. It pulls you in with the title and then gives you the goods as well. It's really about the travesty that happens regularly in mainstream media outlets when they create false equivalences between rigorous scientific study/thought and crazytown. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

I did think the last suggestion could go horribly awry though; I can imagine some people I've met reacting very negatively to someone questioning whether they're entitled to an opinion, right or wrong. - Jennifer Dittrich

I think he said to ask them why they think they are entitled to their opinion, not questioning that they are entitled to their opinion. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

As in "That's interesting...what makes you think that? What do you base that on?" - Scoble, Alex Scoble

Oh, I get what he was suggesting, but phrasing it as he does in the article leaves it ambiguous, and some people react defensively to anyone questioning their stance (much less their reasoning.) - Jennifer Dittrich

Yeah, I bet the author doesn't keep a lot of friends that would react like that. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

I really like the simple way he lays it out. I'll have to keep this to hand :) - WoH: Professor MOTHRA

Although I will say that it can be pretty enervating when people don't take your expertise in a particular area seriously. Dealing with at work here a bit this week. Thankfully, I'm not the lead on the project so if it fails, and it likely will fail if things continue as they are, it's no skin off my back. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

I think the other side to it is that although people may not be entitled to their opinions, you have limited options when it comes stopping them from spouting their erroneous opinions if they won't engage in any sort of rational debate. - WoH: Professor MOTHRA