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Just because there isn't a free speech argument doesn't mean a communication company would benefit by going on a politically driven "banfest". >Americans LOVE

Just because there isn't a free speech argument doesn't mean a communication company would benefit by going on a politically driven "banfest". >Americans LOVE to pretend like they are morally superior, but the moral code and values built into todays companies are completely bonkers. Free speech is constantly invoked when it doesn't even apply, and it's applied so inconsistently it doesn't even make sense. ^^this doesn't make sense.

marcus_holmes 8y ago
It does to me. The US constitutional right to Free Speech only applies to government actions, not to private individuals or companies. To use someone else's analogy: if you come into my house and talk shit, I have every right to ask you to leave, and you don't have constitutional protection for that. Yet, "Free Speech" is constantly invoked when people are banned from privately-owned sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It doesn't even apply to these sites. Free Speech is also applied inconsistently. Pornography is protected Free Speech under the US Constitution. Yet Facebook's Nipple Ban is usually not even mentioned when people talk about Free Speech on Facebook. Their right to remove pornographic content from their site is not questioned, but their right to remove someone's hate-filled rant is. This is clearly inconsistent.
- nailer 8y ago
  If you advertise your house as a wau for people to meet and communicate with their friends, then kick out all your conservative guests, then yes, you've done something morally wrong. Free speech laws don't stop this, it's your property , but they also don't make it right.
  - marcus_holmes 8y ago
    If someone came into my house and started insulting people based on the colour of their skin, I'd feel morally obliged to throw them out. Your morals are obviously very different from mine. That's OK, you can have all the racists in your place, and I will support your right to do so. But I expect you to support my right to throw them out of my place too...
    - nailer 8y ago
      > started insulting people based on the colour of their skin That's not only what social media companies censor, and not what anyone in this thread is advocating for, and you know it. You're spouting insults, trying to claim free speech advocates are racists, as a way to avoid actual discussion. My morals are indeed very different from yours. > But I expect you to support my right to throw them out of my place too... Sure, but stop advertising your house as a discussion platform when clearly you don't want that. That said: please don't contact me again. I'm not interested in your reply, I don't think anyone else on HN would be, and I think you've indicated which direction you want to take this dicussion.

marcus_holmes 8y ago

It does to me. The US constitutional right to Free Speech only applies to government actions, not to private individuals or companies. To use someone else's analogy: if you come into my house and talk shit, I have every right to ask you to leave, and you don't have constitutional protection for that. Yet, "Free Speech" is constantly invoked when people are banned from privately-owned sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It doesn't even apply to these sites. Free Speech is also applied inconsistently. Pornography is protected Free Speech under the US Constitution. Yet Facebook's Nipple Ban is usually not even mentioned when people talk about Free Speech on Facebook. Their right to remove pornographic content from their site is not questioned, but their right to remove someone's hate-filled rant is. This is clearly inconsistent.

nailer 8y ago
If you advertise your house as a wau for people to meet and communicate with their friends, then kick out all your conservative guests, then yes, you've done something morally wrong. Free speech laws don't stop this, it's your property , but they also don't make it right.
- marcus_holmes 8y ago
  If someone came into my house and started insulting people based on the colour of their skin, I'd feel morally obliged to throw them out. Your morals are obviously very different from mine. That's OK, you can have all the racists in your place, and I will support your right to do so. But I expect you to support my right to throw them out of my place too...
  - nailer 8y ago
    > started insulting people based on the colour of their skin That's not only what social media companies censor, and not what anyone in this thread is advocating for, and you know it. You're spouting insults, trying to claim free speech advocates are racists, as a way to avoid actual discussion. My morals are indeed very different from yours. > But I expect you to support my right to throw them out of my place too... Sure, but stop advertising your house as a discussion platform when clearly you don't want that. That said: please don't contact me again. I'm not interested in your reply, I don't think anyone else on HN would be, and I think you've indicated which direction you want to take this dicussion.