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While I've been happy to see the MIT Free Speech Alliance come alive I'm disappointed that their web site doesn't list a specific set of current or past free sp

While I've been happy to see the MIT Free Speech Alliance come alive I'm disappointed that their web site doesn't list a specific set of current or past free speech issues and the advocacy they would have adopted for each. Key people involved in some issues might include e.g. * The MIT Chinese Student and Scholar Association, its funding sources, and its key advocacy areas * Richard Lindzen (climate views) * Joi Ito (Epstein, OpenAg) * Ted Postol (missile defense) * Richard Stallman I can think of a bunch more.

photochemsyn 4y ago
Aaron Swartz? > "A much-anticipated report on MIT’s actions in relation to the case of Aaron Swartz, a young computer programmer and Internet activist who committed suicide in January, finds no wrongdoing on MIT’s part." https://news.mit.edu/2013/mit-releases-swartz-report-0730 https://news.mit.edu/2013/mit-releases-swartz-report-0730
affinepplan 4y ago
Stallman wasn't exactly just a free speech issue.... he was sexually harassing students.
- ta8903 4y ago
  From what I recall it was more that some people (not sure if they were students) were feeling harassed by his behaviour.
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- Manuel_D 4y ago
  No, he made some far fetched statements that people (rightly) objected to. But since the consequences were not satisfying to some, he was falsely accused of sexual harassment on account of his views. Yes, saying that minors should be able to consent to sex with adults is something that a lot of people, including myself, are disturbed to hear. That said, calling this sexual harassment is unambiguously a false accusation.
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ocschwar 4y ago
How many of these are free speech issues? Lindzen doesn't raise any. He's retired, and speaks only for himself. He's an embarrassment, but there are no issues there. Ito? No attempt has been made to silence him. Stallman isn't a speech matter either. His behavior was off putting enough that women were choosing to change their careers to avoid having to deal with him, so now he and his FSF have to do their thing off campus.
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photochemsyn 4y ago

Aaron Swartz? > "A much-anticipated report on MIT’s actions in relation to the case of Aaron Swartz, a young computer programmer and Internet activist who committed suicide in January, finds no wrongdoing on MIT’s part." https://news.mit.edu/2013/mit-releases-swartz-report-0730 https://news.mit.edu/2013/mit-releases-swartz-report-0730

affinepplan 4y ago

Stallman wasn't exactly just a free speech issue.... he was sexually harassing students.

ta8903 4y ago
From what I recall it was more that some people (not sure if they were students) were feeling harassed by his behaviour.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
Manuel_D 4y ago
No, he made some far fetched statements that people (rightly) objected to. But since the consequences were not satisfying to some, he was falsely accused of sexual harassment on account of his views. Yes, saying that minors should be able to consent to sex with adults is something that a lot of people, including myself, are disturbed to hear. That said, calling this sexual harassment is unambiguously a false accusation.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

ocschwar 4y ago

How many of these are free speech issues? Lindzen doesn't raise any. He's retired, and speaks only for himself. He's an embarrassment, but there are no issues there. Ito? No attempt has been made to silence him. Stallman isn't a speech matter either. His behavior was off putting enough that women were choosing to change their careers to avoid having to deal with him, so now he and his FSF have to do their thing off campus.

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