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Comment by jsendros | Hacker News Reader

What the fuck are these comments? At some point, when everyone has shut you out, don't you realize that you are the problem?

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Some people think abstract principles matter more than specific edge-cases.

I think some people also use abstract principles as canards when they actually identify with said edge cases. Either way, it’s exhausting and pointless and poisons every conversation online (and some off) that touch on these issues. It’s like arguing about the value of birth control with a pope from a few decades ago. Facts don’t matter, only positions matter.

I'll just throw out that it's not a coincidence which specific edge-cases these people choose to get up in arms about.

Like, I don't see a lot of outrage from free speech types when liberal professors get fired for saying stupid shit. It's only a certain kind of speech being suppressed that they seem to care about.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/ut-condemns-t...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/2...

> Like, I don't see a lot of outrage from free speech types when liberal professors get fired for saying stupid shit

Is it the same thing?

A better example would be if power companies and phone companies started disconnecting liberal professors for saying stupid shit.

I wasn't trying to make an analogy to this specific situation. You're right that it's not the same. I was just pointing out things I've noticed about the broader free speech discussion.

> from free speech types

How about center-left free speech types like me? I'm from the UK and it's so clear over hear which side of the spectrum "owns" free speech.

Free speech, as a right, has become obsolete given that corporations have become the medium for our communications. Anyone or anything can be censored. It's not about Alex being wrong.

Is Wikileaks a problem, or a solutition?

It can be both.

> At some point, when everyone has shut you out, don't you realize that you are the problem?

I remember everyone shutting out my brother for being gay.

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