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How many people are afraid to speak out here, despite disagreement? What, with the horrible consequence of being downvoted looming over them? Probably a lot f

by zorpner 10y ago

How many people are afraid to speak out here, despite disagreement? What, with the horrible consequence of being downvoted looming over them? Probably a lot fewer than are afraid to speak out about charismatic abusers who have threatened to ruin their personal and professional lives if they speak out. This is a pretty classic example of a common phenomenon -- to paraphrase Alana Massey, people often mistake the discomfort of being confronted with their own violence for the suffering they caused by it. Appelbaum's "victimization" isn't remotely close to the suffering of the his victims.

Nadya 10y ago
>What, with the horrible consequence of being downvoted looming over them? Probably a lot fewer than are afraid to speak out about charismatic abusers who have threatened to ruin their personal and professional lives if they speak out. Downvoted? How about losing your job. Speak out and if your account has your Twitter handle, email, employer, etc. that many HN'ers share (or indirectly share by using the same handle on other sites) - risk having an ideological hate mob targeting you and lighting a metaphorical fire under your employer's ass until you get laid off because they disagree with your beliefs? Shit that has been happening in increasing amounts in the past decade. Plenty of people with the "wrong thoughts" self-censor or remain psuedonymous or anonymous to share their "real" thoughts. The defense for attacking these people is almost always "They are a bigot/sexist/racist/transphobe/Islamiphobe/___ist/___phobe", often without actual evidence or relying on a he-said/she-said. Which is just a "morally correct" version of attacking someone for their beliefs and opinions. With very few lines and exceptions - I do not think anyone should lose their jobs for having their own beliefs and opinions. It's a very dangerous line to walk. >Appelbaum's "victimization" isn't remotely close to the suffering of the his victims. Innocent until proven guilty has been tossed to the side I see.

by zorpner 10y ago

Nadya 10y ago

>What, with the horrible consequence of being downvoted looming over them? Probably a lot fewer than are afraid to speak out about charismatic abusers who have threatened to ruin their personal and professional lives if they speak out. Downvoted? How about losing your job. Speak out and if your account has your Twitter handle, email, employer, etc. that many HN'ers share (or indirectly share by using the same handle on other sites) - risk having an ideological hate mob targeting you and lighting a metaphorical fire under your employer's ass until you get laid off because they disagree with your beliefs? Shit that has been happening in increasing amounts in the past decade. Plenty of people with the "wrong thoughts" self-censor or remain psuedonymous or anonymous to share their "real" thoughts. The defense for attacking these people is almost always "They are a bigot/sexist/racist/transphobe/Islamiphobe/___ist/___phobe", often without actual evidence or relying on a he-said/she-said. Which is just a "morally correct" version of attacking someone for their beliefs and opinions. With very few lines and exceptions - I do not think anyone should lose their jobs for having their own beliefs and opinions. It's a very dangerous line to walk. >Appelbaum's "victimization" isn't remotely close to the suffering of the his victims. Innocent until proven guilty has been tossed to the side I see.