Yes, oppression is too strong of a word to use - the feeling I had would have been better described to state that suppression of ideas is on the spectrum toward

Yes, oppression is too strong of a word to use - the feeling I had would have been better described to state that suppression of ideas is on the spectrum towards oppression, a sign that that's not the best direction to go in, the better direction to lead towards is closer to freedom, and expression vs. suppression.