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Science goes through a process of peer review where they engage in a methodical process to make sure the evidence they are working with is reliable. Science is

Science goes through a process of peer review where they engage in a methodical process to make sure the evidence they are working with is reliable. Science is falsifiable: Any scientific theory can be contradicted by certain evidence appearing to contradict the theory. It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot better than making stuff up and posting it on the Internet without any evidence to back up the claims (which is what conspiracy theories do).

baobabKoodaa 6y ago
You didn't answer my question. I don't need a condescending explanation of how science is supposed to work, I need an explanation of how science is supposed to work when dissenting voices are silenced. Remember, a year ago the "official line" in many western countries was that masks are useless and/or harmful, and there was a large-scale censorship effort against people who were claiming that masks were useful. Even though we now consider this to be a fact, it used to be labelled "disinformation" and censored. You think that science can work without freedom of speech? What a joke.
- strenholme 6y ago
  It not a matter of censorship. It is a matter of distinguishing legitimate science from made-up conspiracy theories. People have the right to make up unscientific nonsense like “vaccines cause autism” or “masks do not help stop the spread of COVID-19”, but people also have the right to say “that’s unscientific nonsense”. Freedom of speech is not freedom from rebuttal.
  - baobabKoodaa 6y ago
    > People have the right to make up unscientific nonsense like “vaccines cause autism” or “masks do not help stop the spread of COVID-19”, but people also have the right to say “that’s unscientific nonsense”. Freedom of speech is not freedom from rebuttal. Oh, now you're a proponent of free speech? That's surprising, considering that a moment ago - in this very thread - you literally asked the moderators to censor this article that exists for the sole purpose of exposing the kind of censorship that you were advocating: > I’m disappointed this kind of article borderline espousing conspiracy theories made the front page of Ycombinator. @deng: I don’t think it serves Ycombinator’s interests to have this kind of article prominent.
    - strenholme 6y ago
      “Free speech” is not freedom from moderation either. Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and, yes, Ycombinator, have a right to delete content they do not like and block users who post content they do not agree with. That’s not censorship. That’s moderation. Censorship is getting shot by police in Burma for protesting the military coup that recently happened there, or beaten up in Russia for protesting the arrest of the opposition candidate. Back to the original conversation, I have seen online forums get ruined once unpleasant argumentative cranks, usually people who have been kicked off of other forums for inappropriate behavior, start overtaking a forum. Soon, the forum is a cesspool of conspiracy theories, and pretty soon, the place is inciting violence. For example, Parler. I don’t want to see that happen to Ycombinator.
      - baobabKoodaa 6y ago
        > That’s not censorship. That’s moderation. Ah, yes. You are one of those "free speech proponents" who value people's ability to speak freely in dark corners where no-one can hear them.
        strenholme 6y ago
        Relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1357/ https://xkcd.com/1357/

baobabKoodaa 6y ago

You didn't answer my question. I don't need a condescending explanation of how science is supposed to work, I need an explanation of how science is supposed to work when dissenting voices are silenced. Remember, a year ago the "official line" in many western countries was that masks are useless and/or harmful, and there was a large-scale censorship effort against people who were claiming that masks were useful. Even though we now consider this to be a fact, it used to be labelled "disinformation" and censored. You think that science can work without freedom of speech? What a joke.

strenholme 6y ago
It not a matter of censorship. It is a matter of distinguishing legitimate science from made-up conspiracy theories. People have the right to make up unscientific nonsense like “vaccines cause autism” or “masks do not help stop the spread of COVID-19”, but people also have the right to say “that’s unscientific nonsense”. Freedom of speech is not freedom from rebuttal.
- baobabKoodaa 6y ago
  > People have the right to make up unscientific nonsense like “vaccines cause autism” or “masks do not help stop the spread of COVID-19”, but people also have the right to say “that’s unscientific nonsense”. Freedom of speech is not freedom from rebuttal. Oh, now you're a proponent of free speech? That's surprising, considering that a moment ago - in this very thread - you literally asked the moderators to censor this article that exists for the sole purpose of exposing the kind of censorship that you were advocating: > I’m disappointed this kind of article borderline espousing conspiracy theories made the front page of Ycombinator. @deng: I don’t think it serves Ycombinator’s interests to have this kind of article prominent.
  - strenholme 6y ago
    “Free speech” is not freedom from moderation either. Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and, yes, Ycombinator, have a right to delete content they do not like and block users who post content they do not agree with. That’s not censorship. That’s moderation. Censorship is getting shot by police in Burma for protesting the military coup that recently happened there, or beaten up in Russia for protesting the arrest of the opposition candidate. Back to the original conversation, I have seen online forums get ruined once unpleasant argumentative cranks, usually people who have been kicked off of other forums for inappropriate behavior, start overtaking a forum. Soon, the forum is a cesspool of conspiracy theories, and pretty soon, the place is inciting violence. For example, Parler. I don’t want to see that happen to Ycombinator.
    - baobabKoodaa 6y ago
      > That’s not censorship. That’s moderation. Ah, yes. You are one of those "free speech proponents" who value people's ability to speak freely in dark corners where no-one can hear them.
      - strenholme 6y ago
        Relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1357/ https://xkcd.com/1357/