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Comment by ericmay | Hacker News Reader

One thing to consider is recruitment of more people through exposure. “Radicalization” is a thing.

I’m not sold on this action either way, just providing what I believe to be something worth considering.

Nope, you’re spot on. Diversions are critical for folks who might be on the path to radicalization, who can be reasoned with, who can critically think, and who can be brought back from the edge. Not everyone is a lost cause, and the effort must be put forth collectively.

Or not even radicalized, just massively misinformed.

It seems like people denying a problem exists is creating massive inertia against solutions to even the most apparent and emotionally salient problems (mass shootings, COVID, etc).

Just like those Uyghurs in China, going off for "re-education" to learn how to be proper citizens.

Yes, and all this de-platforming is only going to deepen divisions, I fear. Is there any real reason for doing so, since there is always provisions to deal with people who break laws.

Are these companies acting preemptively from fear of being later assigned culpability?

I don't think it's about lawbreakers, it's about depriving the devoted core of access to a large casual following.

The people really deeply devoted to these movements will remain, but many others will just lose interest if it becomes inconvenient.

Recruiting is a powerful method to reinforce tribalism.

The constant rejection isolates and estranges the proselytizer from normal society.

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