5 ms·
Am I the only one thinking that this is censorship too? edit: censorship
by d0vs 15y ago
Am I the only one thinking that this is censorship too?
edit: censorship
- michaelty 15y agoYes. This is not censoring, this is capitalism in action.
- alanfalcon 15y agoCensorship involves speech or other forms of communication. Withholding an invite or discouraging of certain investors in not censorship.
- theorique 15y agoYC demo day is a private event hosted by a private organization. As such, YC has the right to determine the kind of entities that are allowed to be present at the event. And YC / pg have determined that the kind of companies that would support SOPA are unlikely to make good investors in YC portfolio companies. No censorship, just a business decision.
- thebigshane 15y agoCurious: Aren't ISPs and payment processing companies also private organizations? Are DNS "name servers"? I don't disagree with PG's stance here and I don't think it is censorship, but you must admit that these are "just business decisions" for these parties as well (possibly even Congress)
- marshray 15y agoThe term for large ISPs and DNS systems is "common carriers". They are qualitatively different than a Y Combinator.
- thebigshane 15y agoI think you might be wrong. According to wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carrier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carrier Internet Service Providers have argued against being classified as a "common carrier" and, so far, have managed to do so [...] Because ISPs are no longer prohibited from discriminating among different types of content under common carrier law [...]
- marshray 15y agoThat's maybe an interesting discussion in its own right, but I think the fact that they're "arguing against" it means it was at least a relevant example. A much better example would have been "The Power Company", a formally-regulated utility. The phone, electric, or gas utility is not allowed to refuse you service simply because they don't like your politics or your business judgment the way a Y Combinator can.
- drcube 15y agoSure, the difference is that if Congress mandates it, it IS censorship. Until then, it's just a bunch of different people advocating censorship and a bunch of other people opposing it. For "business" reasons. I could use emotional terms like "freedom" and "tyranny", but in the end my opposition to censorship and advocacy for freedom come down to personal interest. I like to think it would be better for everyone else too, but yeah, I advocate for freedom because I WANT freedom. It's just business.
- parfe 15y agoCensuring for sure. Censoring? No.
- Scriptor 15y agoI disagree with that since the reasons are not purely political. PG believes that supporting SOPA shows a very flawed understanding of how the Internet works. Since many YC companies are web-based or rely on the Internet in other ways I think this makes sense. You can't knowledgeably invest in something with a very flawed understanding of it.
- h_r 15y agoCensorship is using legal force, physically if necessary to shut you up. It isn't simply refusing to provide you a platform.
- lukejduncan 15y agoI wish I could downvote
- drewda 15y agoNo, I think the appropriate word would be "advocacy."
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]