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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 unscient

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

> 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/