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fwiw I do know that it happens all the time here. And, as someone whose politics runs very far to the left contra this forum (I'm a regular Jacobin reader), I c

fwiw I do know that it happens all the time here. And, as someone whose politics runs very far to the left contra this forum (I'm a regular Jacobin reader), I can appreciate the annoyance. I did strike me as a bit dissonant, coming from you. Edit: also, not having to constantly battle either a) trolls or b) what I feel to be right wing libertarian myopia is one of the reasons I've commented so little here, so, I Get It. I've been a reader/lurker for something like 7 years now. early 2009, I believe.

tptacek 10y ago
Some years ago, during a phase in which every other comment on this site seemed to be accusing me of being an NSA shill, I made a decision never to spell out my particular (boring, especially if you know where I live) political beliefs in response to people accusing me of having a particular political inclination. Doing so might simplify (dumb, lazy) arguments. But we shouldn't have to do that.
- dtornabene 10y ago
  I remember that. Not one of the brighter HN moments. I've done a small amount of activism, come from a family who have had run ins with the security state (had my own as well). It can be jarring to then turn around and have to defend a position that automatically grants you "shill" status to online nutjobs.
- borkborkbork 10y ago
  I was wrong to have brought up your personal political beliefs. I apologize for that. The arguments you are making, however, are dependent on the idea that markets are a necessary mechanism for the existence of the modern internet. You have the right to withhold your political beliefs from anyone in any context. You've gone astray by demanding that others de-politicize their language in a similar way.
  - tptacek 10y ago
    I believe that about the Internet. I don't necessarily believe it about anything else. I am fine with politics, as long as the political discussion doesn't take the form of "here is what I have inferred about your personal political beliefs".
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

tptacek 10y ago

Some years ago, during a phase in which every other comment on this site seemed to be accusing me of being an NSA shill, I made a decision never to spell out my particular (boring, especially if you know where I live) political beliefs in response to people accusing me of having a particular political inclination. Doing so might simplify (dumb, lazy) arguments. But we shouldn't have to do that.

dtornabene 10y ago
I remember that. Not one of the brighter HN moments. I've done a small amount of activism, come from a family who have had run ins with the security state (had my own as well). It can be jarring to then turn around and have to defend a position that automatically grants you "shill" status to online nutjobs.
borkborkbork 10y ago
I was wrong to have brought up your personal political beliefs. I apologize for that. The arguments you are making, however, are dependent on the idea that markets are a necessary mechanism for the existence of the modern internet. You have the right to withhold your political beliefs from anyone in any context. You've gone astray by demanding that others de-politicize their language in a similar way.
- tptacek 10y ago
  I believe that about the Internet. I don't necessarily believe it about anything else. I am fine with politics, as long as the political discussion doesn't take the form of "here is what I have inferred about your personal political beliefs".
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]