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> were you around HN when this happened

Dude I've been around HN for almost 9 years.

And in that time this site went from pro free speech to downvote anything that isn't super left-wing progressive

HN is still pro free speech. Downvoting comments does not curtail free speech. Flagging them does (unless your definition of "free speech" stops at the First Amendment), but only for those who don't have "showdead" on. Maybe HN's way of highlighting downvoted comments encourages conformist behavior, but you can still write anything you want. You just might not find anybody willing to listen and agree.

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