5 ms·

Just like shop owner shouldn't refuse to sell you something, because he doesn't like your hair color, social media company shouldn't refuse to broadcast your sp

by chr1 6y ago

Just like shop owner shouldn't refuse to sell you something, because he doesn't like your hair color, social media company shouldn't refuse to broadcast your speech. Note that this is different from tv or radio, because then the broadcasting company has to do additional work to broadcast your speech, but with social media the company has to do additional work to block it. Edit: can't -> should't (sorry english is not my first language)

grahamburger 6y ago
> social media company can't refuse to broadcast your speech. No, they don't. You might think that they should have to, but as things are today, they don't.
desigooner 6y ago
Wait. Where were you when the baker refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple?! Smh..
- chr1 6y ago
  This is a good example too. A baker cannot be forced to do unusual or creative work he doesn't like, but refusing to sell pre-made cake, or refusing to do routine customizations (like selecting colour or text if these are always done for other customers), is wrong. So as far as i can tell from wikipedia article the decision of US court was wrong, and the situation republicans find themselves in, is in a way deserved. I am not from US, and I think it's really sad that most people think, that by opinion on one issue it is possible to infer opinions on all the other issues. Social media makes it too easy to create echo chambers, and see only strawman versions of other sides arguments, freedom of speech and tolerance is the only way to heal the society.
CraigJPerry 6y ago
It’s a private company. So long as it’s not discriminating on legally defined grounds, it’s free to do whatever the hell it wants. The official broadcasting channels of the us gov remain fully open at Mr Trump’s disposal.
mreome 6y ago
Businesses can refuse service to any person for any reason, unless the business is specifically discriminating against a person for being part of a protected class. Hair color is not a legally protected class last time I checked.
- konjin 6y ago
  The idea of a protected class is a fascist one. A citizen is a citizen is a citizen. Everyone has the same rights and protections. How the same people who complained about apartheid can then reinvent it in under 20 years is beyond me.
  - dang 6y ago
    Please stop posting ideological flamebait to HN. Comments that take threads, and the site, further into hell are just what we're trying to avoid here. You've been doing this a lot lately, and we ban such accounts, regardless of which politics you favor or disfavor. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
m00x 6y ago
> Just like shop owner can't refuse to sell you something, because he doesn't like your hair color, social media company can't refuse to broadcast your speech. Might want to do research before arguing. This is incredibly inaccurate. Only discriminating against protected classes is illegal, shop owners can refuse to serve you for any other reason.
- chr1 6y ago
  I am not talking about laws in any particular country, but the way things would work in practice. If you see a shop owner refuse service to a girl because of green hair, would you say "that's ok, not a protected class so she had it coming" or would you refuse to do business with that shop owner, and demand fair treatment?

by chr1 6y ago

grahamburger 6y ago

> social media company can't refuse to broadcast your speech. No, they don't. You might think that they should have to, but as things are today, they don't.

desigooner 6y ago

Wait. Where were you when the baker refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple?! Smh..

chr1 6y ago
This is a good example too. A baker cannot be forced to do unusual or creative work he doesn't like, but refusing to sell pre-made cake, or refusing to do routine customizations (like selecting colour or text if these are always done for other customers), is wrong. So as far as i can tell from wikipedia article the decision of US court was wrong, and the situation republicans find themselves in, is in a way deserved. I am not from US, and I think it's really sad that most people think, that by opinion on one issue it is possible to infer opinions on all the other issues. Social media makes it too easy to create echo chambers, and see only strawman versions of other sides arguments, freedom of speech and tolerance is the only way to heal the society.

CraigJPerry 6y ago

It’s a private company. So long as it’s not discriminating on legally defined grounds, it’s free to do whatever the hell it wants. The official broadcasting channels of the us gov remain fully open at Mr Trump’s disposal.

mreome 6y ago

Businesses can refuse service to any person for any reason, unless the business is specifically discriminating against a person for being part of a protected class. Hair color is not a legally protected class last time I checked.

konjin 6y ago
The idea of a protected class is a fascist one. A citizen is a citizen is a citizen. Everyone has the same rights and protections. How the same people who complained about apartheid can then reinvent it in under 20 years is beyond me.
- dang 6y ago
  Please stop posting ideological flamebait to HN. Comments that take threads, and the site, further into hell are just what we're trying to avoid here. You've been doing this a lot lately, and we ban such accounts, regardless of which politics you favor or disfavor. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

m00x 6y ago

> Just like shop owner can't refuse to sell you something, because he doesn't like your hair color, social media company can't refuse to broadcast your speech. Might want to do research before arguing. This is incredibly inaccurate. Only discriminating against protected classes is illegal, shop owners can refuse to serve you for any other reason.

chr1 6y ago
I am not talking about laws in any particular country, but the way things would work in practice. If you see a shop owner refuse service to a girl because of green hair, would you say "that's ok, not a protected class so she had it coming" or would you refuse to do business with that shop owner, and demand fair treatment?