4 ms·

This whole thread proves that free speech isn't possible in any society. The only question is who gets to decide what is verboten.

dschuessler 6y ago
Interesting. The whole thread proves to me the exact opposite. That free speech is very alive since nothing here has been censored yet. The only way I can explain our disparate perceptions is that we're talking about entirely different things. By "free speech" I mean not being arrested or physically harmed for saying something. Is it possible that by "free speech" you in contrast mean being entitled to be invited, keeping your job, and/or remaining uncontradicted?
- throwaway234101 6y ago
  > By "free speech" I mean not being arrested or physically harmed for saying something. Go out in public and read random passages from the bible. See how long you go before being assaulted and/or arrested.
- josteink 6y ago
  I would have agreed to your statement until around now-ish when this entire discussion-tree got flagged, including my mostly factual root-comment. Around the same time the San Fransisco morning/lunch shift kicked in? You’re only allowed to have such “controversial” discussions here in European time-zones it seems ;)
  - dschuessler 6y ago
    Well, we’re still neither arrested nor physically harmed, aren’t we? So our speech is still free. Ycombinator is not obliged to give our discussion a visible platform. Here’s the obligatory xkcd: https://xkcd.com/1357/ https://xkcd.com/1357/
    - throwaway234101 6y ago
      > So our speech is still free. No. That's not what free speech is. Free speech is being able to speak your mind without restriction. There is no such thing as free speech in the US, either culturally or legally. This is not to be confused with the 1st amendment which does not guarantee "free speech", but rather guarantees political speech against the government. You should read A History of the Freedom of Thought by JB Bury[0]. [0]: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10684/10684-h/10684-h.htm#:~:text=A%20History%20of%20Freedom%20of,with%20almost%20no%20restrictions%20whatsoever https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10684/10684-h/10684-h.htm#:~....

dschuessler 6y ago

Interesting. The whole thread proves to me the exact opposite. That free speech is very alive since nothing here has been censored yet. The only way I can explain our disparate perceptions is that we're talking about entirely different things. By "free speech" I mean not being arrested or physically harmed for saying something. Is it possible that by "free speech" you in contrast mean being entitled to be invited, keeping your job, and/or remaining uncontradicted?

throwaway234101 6y ago
> By "free speech" I mean not being arrested or physically harmed for saying something. Go out in public and read random passages from the bible. See how long you go before being assaulted and/or arrested.
josteink 6y ago
I would have agreed to your statement until around now-ish when this entire discussion-tree got flagged, including my mostly factual root-comment. Around the same time the San Fransisco morning/lunch shift kicked in? You’re only allowed to have such “controversial” discussions here in European time-zones it seems ;)
- dschuessler 6y ago
  Well, we’re still neither arrested nor physically harmed, aren’t we? So our speech is still free. Ycombinator is not obliged to give our discussion a visible platform. Here’s the obligatory xkcd: https://xkcd.com/1357/ https://xkcd.com/1357/
  - throwaway234101 6y ago
    > So our speech is still free. No. That's not what free speech is. Free speech is being able to speak your mind without restriction. There is no such thing as free speech in the US, either culturally or legally. This is not to be confused with the 1st amendment which does not guarantee "free speech", but rather guarantees political speech against the government. You should read A History of the Freedom of Thought by JB Bury[0]. [0]: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10684/10684-h/10684-h.htm#:~:text=A%20History%20of%20Freedom%20of,with%20almost%20no%20restrictions%20whatsoever https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10684/10684-h/10684-h.htm#:~....