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Comment by mikedilger | Hacker News Reader

Every idea which moves society forward starts out as an idea first believed to be false. If we censor what we believe to be false, we stop right here - progress halts.

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> If we censor what we believe to be false, we stop right here - progress halts.

This is a flimsy, oversimplified, and false argument. It stands in stark contrast to the depth of thought discussed in the paper.

Yeah, but I used less words.

I just finished reading the paper. I took a few hours. It is indeed a well reasoned argument. I will have to read it a few more times to make sure I've understood well enough. I'm not moved in my position (which aligns strongly with Kennedy in US v Alvarez and with John Stuart Mill), but this was very interesting material to consider.

> Every idea which moves society forward starts out as an idea first believed to be false.

I disagree.

Great! Please expound on that.

What's presented without evidence maybe dismissed without evidence.

I will, of course, grant there were many ideas throughout history that were heretical at the time. But not all.

The invention (or discovery) of multiplication moved society forward. Was multiplication considered false before then?

Many other times, society often takes its time at recognizing, accepting, and implementing the true ideas.

Excellent. I agree. 'Every' was wrong. I didn't think of that when I wrote the statement.

If my FALSEHOOD had been censored, I would still be walking around with a dumb idea in my head.

My thoughts exactly! It is better to shoot stupid people who believe falsehood propaganda about your family and come to your home to kill you for something you never did, than to stop the spread of propaganda before it is too late.

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