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Do you really think that no one has suffered for having conversations pro gay rights, civil rights, gender equality, and all those other previously inadmissible

Do you really think that no one has suffered for having conversations pro gay rights, civil rights, gender equality, and all those other previously inadmissible topics? No, they spoke publicly, and paid the (unfortunate) consequences of the day ... but they carried on because it was the right thing to do. What exactly is it that we're trying to "express ourselves" about here? what "progress" are we trying to make on old men having sex with young girls? If there's change to be made, then someone is going to have to weather the cultural storm that speaking out about it brings in order to bring change. If it's not worth weathering that storm, then maybe it's not worth having that discussion in the first place.

eloff 7y ago
Of course not, it's my position that there shouldn't be such serious consequences for having a dissenting opinion. Minority opinions are in fact the only way we make progress in science our society. Everything accepted now was once a fringe idea. There is a real conversion to be had about our statutory rape laws. They're absurd in some aspects. That's beside the point.
- widowlark 7y ago
  Every minority opinion has paid the price for being one. You have to keep fighting if you believe what you're saying, it's never been easy to make waves and it took at lot to get to this point. However, comments like what Stallman made are nearly indefensible and only lead to people getting removed. In the end, if protecting pedophiles becomes the norm, he will be exonerated as a martyr of the movement.
  - eloff 7y ago
    Are you really saying Minsky is a paedophile? You are exaggerating the situation here unfairly.
    - cygx 7y ago
      Stallman used to argue that 'voluntarily paedophilia' should be decriminalized, cf quotes from 2003 and 2006[1]. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/d59r46/richard_stallman_resigns_from_mit_over_epstein/f0lu3o6/ https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/d59r46/richard...
      - eloff 7y ago
        Yes, I know. But that's not what we're talking about now. We're taking about the objectionable comments he made now, rather than his long history of objectionable opinions. It probably affected the decision to fire him though.
        cygx 7y ago
        Well, at the very least the Software Freedom Conservancy was talking about past behaviour, as did various other commentators. You might be right that widowlark's comment was in reference to the Minsky defense specifically - I didn't read the exchange that led up to the comment that closely, and took its opening line about minority opinions as a reference to pedophilia apologia in general.
        bandrami 7y ago
        That really is what we're talking about now, try as people might to ignore it. This was the last of a long string of statements and actions that Stallman had been repeatedly warned about.
- rodgerd 7y ago
  > Of course not, it's my position that there shouldn't be such serious consequences for having a dissenting opinion Do you think an advocate for paedophilia and child pornography should be able to pick up a job in a childcare centre or primary school?

eloff 7y ago

Of course not, it's my position that there shouldn't be such serious consequences for having a dissenting opinion. Minority opinions are in fact the only way we make progress in science our society. Everything accepted now was once a fringe idea. There is a real conversion to be had about our statutory rape laws. They're absurd in some aspects. That's beside the point.

widowlark 7y ago
Every minority opinion has paid the price for being one. You have to keep fighting if you believe what you're saying, it's never been easy to make waves and it took at lot to get to this point. However, comments like what Stallman made are nearly indefensible and only lead to people getting removed. In the end, if protecting pedophiles becomes the norm, he will be exonerated as a martyr of the movement.
- eloff 7y ago
  Are you really saying Minsky is a paedophile? You are exaggerating the situation here unfairly.
  - cygx 7y ago
    Stallman used to argue that 'voluntarily paedophilia' should be decriminalized, cf quotes from 2003 and 2006[1]. [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/d59r46/richard_stallman_resigns_from_mit_over_epstein/f0lu3o6/ https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/d59r46/richard...
    - eloff 7y ago
      Yes, I know. But that's not what we're talking about now. We're taking about the objectionable comments he made now, rather than his long history of objectionable opinions. It probably affected the decision to fire him though.
      - cygx 7y ago
        Well, at the very least the Software Freedom Conservancy was talking about past behaviour, as did various other commentators. You might be right that widowlark's comment was in reference to the Minsky defense specifically - I didn't read the exchange that led up to the comment that closely, and took its opening line about minority opinions as a reference to pedophilia apologia in general.
      - bandrami 7y ago
        That really is what we're talking about now, try as people might to ignore it. This was the last of a long string of statements and actions that Stallman had been repeatedly warned about.
rodgerd 7y ago
> Of course not, it's my position that there shouldn't be such serious consequences for having a dissenting opinion Do you think an advocate for paedophilia and child pornography should be able to pick up a job in a childcare centre or primary school?