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> Such a weak minded assertion as "ban all advertising" without considering how that impacts freedom of speech is unbelievable.

There are many categories of products that are already not allowed to advertised, where meta-discussion about the products still works fine.

It's not "effectively" an ad for anything, it's a discussion forum. The fact that it also offers some publicity to YC's business is an additional aspect, but not the main one.

It's an "ad" in as much as anything. Not to mention it sells job advertisement space. It brings goodwill to the brand. A core tennant of advertising.

Such a weak minded assertion as "ban all advertising" without considering how that impacts freedom of speech is unbelievable.

How about -

Banning all color in ads, all images/videos in ads, all ads in public (busses, billboards, etc), music in ads. Simply black and white text information (which is what YC adheres to).

Any step in that direction I support.

Government dictated shop fronts for all. Death to design.