6 ms·

I'd be open to making exceptions in cases that are anti-regime.

by NamecheapCEO 5y ago

gruez 5y ago
That sounds very "you're either against us or with us".
- mattnewton 5y ago
  Yes, this happens very quickly in war time.
- user-the-name 5y ago
  No, it sounds like a superpower attacked a sovereign country for no other reason than conquest, and we all do what we can to fight back.
- jacquesm 5y ago
  The middle ground is an infinitesimal wide line between Russia and Ukraine called 'the border', and more accurately the line is right now around Russia, Belarus and Chechnya soon to follow. If you are on the other side of that line then you will suffer economically, but not nearly as much as when you are inside Ukraine where you could very well lose your life.
  - tguvot 5y ago
    Chechnya it's actually part of russia
    - jacquesm 5y ago
      It is now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechen%E2%80%93Russian_conflict https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechen%E2%80%93Russian_confli...
- thrwyoilarticle 5y ago
  If you're an economic actor in Russia & aren't actively aiming to end the current regime, you are the target. It's not a coincidence. Invoking Orwellian analogies stops making sense when it's a war.
exizt88 5y ago
I don't think it's possible for a private company to implement a process that can provide "anti-regime exceptions" though. Would you request evidence of anti-regime activity? (Edited for clarity)
- justsomehnguy 5y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_foreign_agent_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_foreign_agent_law The best|worst situation here would be if NamecheapCEO would think this is how it should be. I would laugh my ass off on this hypocrisy.
- rovr138 5y ago
  Why not just migrate the domains at that point and be done with it? I understand the arguments about individuals and how it could be a burden with all that's going on, but a private company? What's the argument?
rmnc 5y ago
So after five plus years of being a client, a private company will be deciding whether I'm worthy of their service or not based on whether I got my teeth kicked in during the protest actions for the past few days? Should I e-mail some photos of my bruises left by police batons on my ribs? Or maybe I should kneel? This is humiliating, and you know it. You're just making more problems and creating more danger for absolutely innocent people, just in spite. This is the essence of cancel culture, now on a national level.
- sydd 5y ago
  Sadly its either these actions or tanks. And if the west would send tanks to Ukraine it'd be WW3. Its the lesser evil now sadly.
  - rmnc 5y ago
    Apologies for the language -- but are you mental? I do get the idea of sanctions -- I'm legally prevented by publicly commenting on this due to some Russian law -- but I understand if a foreign business body has to terminate its business relations with a Russian one. But kicking out paid customers just based on their nationality, knowing that they have no direct control over situation, and still blaming them for it? This is f**d up, I'm sorry.
    - dang 5y ago
      Please don't cross into personal attack. I know you're under pressure, and other people are in terrible situations. We can't allow HN users to start taking that out on each other. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
  - int_19h 5y ago
    It would be much preferable for Russians as a whole for the West to send tanks to Ukraine to engage the invading troops. And no, it wouldn't automatically be WW3, either. It would be if the tanks crossed the Russian border, but they don't have to do so to break the invasion.
glowsoul 5y ago
I find what Russian government doing completely disgusting and savage. I'm totally against this war. Any war for that matter. I have many domains at Namecheap and I will not be able to afford transfer them out due to financial situation. Is there any way I can still keep domains at Namecheap? Which cases are anti-regime?
- JumpCrisscross 5y ago
  > Is there any way I can still keep domains at Namecheap? Use a Russian registrar. Or leave Russia. This sucks. War sucks. But I don’t see how anyone can continue doing business in Russia while maintaining a clean conscience.
  - rmnc 5y ago
    OK. What should I do if I don't fall under a refugee description, don't have any immediate family in the EU, my diploma means nothing to EU, and have no bag of gold to immigrate illegaly? This is me, plain and simple. I would like to immigrate, but I have no legal grounds. Serious question, no gimmicks or laughs: should I die or be cancelled by the rest of the world?
    - JumpCrisscross 5y ago
      > should I die or be cancelled by the rest of the world? You should not die. But you don’t have an inaliable right to thrive in your country. Again, not trying to be a dick. War sucks. I am truly sorry you’re hurting. And I am not suggesting it’s your duty to join a resistance movement or whatever. But these are considerations and costs we must all weigh when our governments do horrible things. Most of the time, sadly, the world won’t care. We (America) have war criminals who should be in jail. But occasionally, the world gets horrified and rises to the occasion. Even that occasional threat is better than nothing.
      - rmnc 5y ago
        This is a nice sentiment, but in the meantime, we're getting F'd for the actions we tried to stop. We failed, but we did the best we could, without resorting to violence. I agree, this is not enough. But this is by no means an excuse to cancel an entire nation.
Dracophoenix 5y ago
How do you reconcile your actions with your claims of protecting free speech and the First Amendment? (https://www.namecheap.com/blog/internet-freedom-the-state-of-play/ https://www.namecheap.com/blog/internet-freedom-the-state-of...) Where do you get off reneging contracts and fleecing people of their money based solely on longitude and latitude and TLD?
- mattnewton 5y ago
  The first amendment makes speech protected from state action. The government of the United States of America is bound by law to not suppress the political speech of its citizens. I don't think it is relevant to international boycotts, in letter or in spirit.
  - Dracophoenix 5y ago
    The point is that Namecheap parades itself as a defender of the First Amendment, while simultaneously robbing people of a vehicle of self-expression that these people have paid for. I know the language of the First Amendment doesn't prohibit Namecheap from saying the will no longer initiate or do any business with Russians. However, it's hypocritical all the same when they criticize the similar actions being taken by the US government. >I don't think it is relevant to international boycotts, in letter or in spirit Of course the First Amendment is relevant to international boycotts. How else would Namecheap half-assingly justifying its premature pullout? If they don't want to renew those domains after a year is up, I wouldn't have a problem, but that's not the case. My issue is not Namecheap's boycott in and of itself, but the process of damning a host of individuals on the barest of relations to the Russian government while having the gall to take their money and run away.
    - mattnewton 5y ago
      > The point is that Namecheap parades itself as a defender of the First Amendment, while simultaneously robbing people of a vehicle of self-expression that they have paid for. I think this is conflating two issues that are altogether very different. In the first, Name cheap was pro section 230 protection, because without it they believed that they would have no choice but to censor people due to the potential for legal liabilities incurred without those protections. They were not advocating for the right of people to not be deplatformed due to their speech. And that isn't even what is happening here, namecheap is deciding to boycott Russia because of the actions of the Russian government, not the speech of the individual Russians. The first amendment in spirit is about protecting citizens from the state and absolutely does not mandate who you do business with and why. There are other laws for protected classes in the US but the whole issue of US law just seems absolutely disjointed in my mind. > Of course the First Amendment is relevant to international boycotts. How else would Namecheap half-assingly justifying its premature pullout? I don't follow at all, sorry. They make no reference to the first amendment, they simply believe it is not in their best interests to do business with Russian citizens at this time because of the actions of the Russian government. This kind of boycott strategy happens all the time.
Bluesboy 5y ago
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
zippowielder 5y ago
A lot of sites (with domains in non-RU tld) that coordinate, help, inform people about what's really going on are under great pressure from Putin's regime. Sites are getting blocked, people are getting fined and jailed. Now you are joining this effort on behalf of Putin. Good job, товарищ! Please report to Russian embassy to get your 30 silver pieces.
racombinator 5y ago
you have to think twice and careful before getting involved in political ideas hitting people like me even not Russian. If you want a war with me, I'm ready, it's exactly what you did, you are provoking ordinary people againt you.

I'd be open to making exceptions in cases that are anti-regime.

gruez 5y ago

That sounds very "you're either against us or with us".

mattnewton 5y ago
Yes, this happens very quickly in war time.
user-the-name 5y ago
No, it sounds like a superpower attacked a sovereign country for no other reason than conquest, and we all do what we can to fight back.
jacquesm 5y ago
The middle ground is an infinitesimal wide line between Russia and Ukraine called 'the border', and more accurately the line is right now around Russia, Belarus and Chechnya soon to follow. If you are on the other side of that line then you will suffer economically, but not nearly as much as when you are inside Ukraine where you could very well lose your life.
- tguvot 5y ago
  Chechnya it's actually part of russia
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    It is now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechen%E2%80%93Russian_conflict https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechen%E2%80%93Russian_confli...
thrwyoilarticle 5y ago
If you're an economic actor in Russia & aren't actively aiming to end the current regime, you are the target. It's not a coincidence. Invoking Orwellian analogies stops making sense when it's a war.

exizt88 5y ago

I don't think it's possible for a private company to implement a process that can provide "anti-regime exceptions" though. Would you request evidence of anti-regime activity? (Edited for clarity)

justsomehnguy 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_foreign_agent_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_foreign_agent_law The best|worst situation here would be if NamecheapCEO would think this is how it should be. I would laugh my ass off on this hypocrisy.
rovr138 5y ago
Why not just migrate the domains at that point and be done with it? I understand the arguments about individuals and how it could be a burden with all that's going on, but a private company? What's the argument?

rmnc 5y ago

So after five plus years of being a client, a private company will be deciding whether I'm worthy of their service or not based on whether I got my teeth kicked in during the protest actions for the past few days? Should I e-mail some photos of my bruises left by police batons on my ribs? Or maybe I should kneel? This is humiliating, and you know it. You're just making more problems and creating more danger for absolutely innocent people, just in spite. This is the essence of cancel culture, now on a national level.

sydd 5y ago
Sadly its either these actions or tanks. And if the west would send tanks to Ukraine it'd be WW3. Its the lesser evil now sadly.
- rmnc 5y ago
  Apologies for the language -- but are you mental? I do get the idea of sanctions -- I'm legally prevented by publicly commenting on this due to some Russian law -- but I understand if a foreign business body has to terminate its business relations with a Russian one. But kicking out paid customers just based on their nationality, knowing that they have no direct control over situation, and still blaming them for it? This is f**d up, I'm sorry.
  - dang 5y ago
    Please don't cross into personal attack. I know you're under pressure, and other people are in terrible situations. We can't allow HN users to start taking that out on each other. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- int_19h 5y ago
  It would be much preferable for Russians as a whole for the West to send tanks to Ukraine to engage the invading troops. And no, it wouldn't automatically be WW3, either. It would be if the tanks crossed the Russian border, but they don't have to do so to break the invasion.

glowsoul 5y ago

I find what Russian government doing completely disgusting and savage. I'm totally against this war. Any war for that matter. I have many domains at Namecheap and I will not be able to afford transfer them out due to financial situation. Is there any way I can still keep domains at Namecheap? Which cases are anti-regime?

JumpCrisscross 5y ago
> Is there any way I can still keep domains at Namecheap? Use a Russian registrar. Or leave Russia. This sucks. War sucks. But I don’t see how anyone can continue doing business in Russia while maintaining a clean conscience.
- rmnc 5y ago
  OK. What should I do if I don't fall under a refugee description, don't have any immediate family in the EU, my diploma means nothing to EU, and have no bag of gold to immigrate illegaly? This is me, plain and simple. I would like to immigrate, but I have no legal grounds. Serious question, no gimmicks or laughs: should I die or be cancelled by the rest of the world?
  - JumpCrisscross 5y ago
    > should I die or be cancelled by the rest of the world? You should not die. But you don’t have an inaliable right to thrive in your country. Again, not trying to be a dick. War sucks. I am truly sorry you’re hurting. And I am not suggesting it’s your duty to join a resistance movement or whatever. But these are considerations and costs we must all weigh when our governments do horrible things. Most of the time, sadly, the world won’t care. We (America) have war criminals who should be in jail. But occasionally, the world gets horrified and rises to the occasion. Even that occasional threat is better than nothing.
    - rmnc 5y ago
      This is a nice sentiment, but in the meantime, we're getting F'd for the actions we tried to stop. We failed, but we did the best we could, without resorting to violence. I agree, this is not enough. But this is by no means an excuse to cancel an entire nation.

Dracophoenix 5y ago

How do you reconcile your actions with your claims of protecting free speech and the First Amendment? (https://www.namecheap.com/blog/internet-freedom-the-state-of-play/ https://www.namecheap.com/blog/internet-freedom-the-state-of...) Where do you get off reneging contracts and fleecing people of their money based solely on longitude and latitude and TLD?

mattnewton 5y ago
The first amendment makes speech protected from state action. The government of the United States of America is bound by law to not suppress the political speech of its citizens. I don't think it is relevant to international boycotts, in letter or in spirit.
- Dracophoenix 5y ago
  The point is that Namecheap parades itself as a defender of the First Amendment, while simultaneously robbing people of a vehicle of self-expression that these people have paid for. I know the language of the First Amendment doesn't prohibit Namecheap from saying the will no longer initiate or do any business with Russians. However, it's hypocritical all the same when they criticize the similar actions being taken by the US government. >I don't think it is relevant to international boycotts, in letter or in spirit Of course the First Amendment is relevant to international boycotts. How else would Namecheap half-assingly justifying its premature pullout? If they don't want to renew those domains after a year is up, I wouldn't have a problem, but that's not the case. My issue is not Namecheap's boycott in and of itself, but the process of damning a host of individuals on the barest of relations to the Russian government while having the gall to take their money and run away.
  - mattnewton 5y ago
    > The point is that Namecheap parades itself as a defender of the First Amendment, while simultaneously robbing people of a vehicle of self-expression that they have paid for. I think this is conflating two issues that are altogether very different. In the first, Name cheap was pro section 230 protection, because without it they believed that they would have no choice but to censor people due to the potential for legal liabilities incurred without those protections. They were not advocating for the right of people to not be deplatformed due to their speech. And that isn't even what is happening here, namecheap is deciding to boycott Russia because of the actions of the Russian government, not the speech of the individual Russians. The first amendment in spirit is about protecting citizens from the state and absolutely does not mandate who you do business with and why. There are other laws for protected classes in the US but the whole issue of US law just seems absolutely disjointed in my mind. > Of course the First Amendment is relevant to international boycotts. How else would Namecheap half-assingly justifying its premature pullout? I don't follow at all, sorry. They make no reference to the first amendment, they simply believe it is not in their best interests to do business with Russian citizens at this time because of the actions of the Russian government. This kind of boycott strategy happens all the time.

Bluesboy 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

zippowielder 5y ago

A lot of sites (with domains in non-RU tld) that coordinate, help, inform people about what's really going on are under great pressure from Putin's regime. Sites are getting blocked, people are getting fined and jailed. Now you are joining this effort on behalf of Putin. Good job, товарищ! Please report to Russian embassy to get your 30 silver pieces.

racombinator 5y ago

you have to think twice and careful before getting involved in political ideas hitting people like me even not Russian. If you want a war with me, I'm ready, it's exactly what you did, you are provoking ordinary people againt you.