Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

I think private companies can deplatform whomever they choose and be as "woke" as they choose to be. The only obligation a corporation has is to its stockholders, like it or not. They aren't public squares, much to the dismay of many of the people who cry foul.

The ACLU can also take this path, but I think it's truly a shame. And there is no such thing as "free speech absolutism", not even in the US. The litmus test (to my understanding - I'm not even close to a lawyer) is the call to action, where it would be legal to say, "I wish someone would burn this place this place down" as opposed to "Let's burn this place down" during a protest might be illegal (I may be wrong in this example - ask a real lawyer).

I also don't believe in a repercussion free society where you can post anything on social media and face no societal backlash. We are social creatures and dictate socially acceptable behavior as a group, at large. If you take a stance that goes against the grain, right or wrong, there will be social repercussions. People have to understand that before they post, and I hope they do. Sometimes standing up for what you believe is worth it. Sometimes making a crappy joke really isn't =)




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: