Comment by underseacables | Hacker News Reader

Comment by underseacables | Hacker News Reader

Im glad this was vouched and brought back because it should be on HN. The internet has enabled cancel culture and turned it into a virus, able to infect and destroy anyone, anywhere. Would this level of violence and attack on someone for speaking their mind be so prevalent without the internet? Maybe. The internet has certainly made drive by canceling easier.

I’m not exactly a fan of M&S but jeewiz, why can’t someone say hey “I liked your book” which doesn’t advocate for violence or harm, and be attacked and canceled for it?

Cancel culture is a sickness on society with no end until it consumes everyone. I just hope it turns back and starts consuming the arm chair radicals that support it.

*Edited for grammar and I made a small mistake in clarity.

why can’t someone say hey “I liked your book” which doesn’t advocate for violence or harm, and be attacked and canceled for it? Cancel culture is a sickness on society with no end until it consumes everyone

So writing those two sentences, one after the other, didn't give you a moment's pause?

Not in the slightest. I firmly believe that everyone should be able to speak their mind no matter what it is so long as it does not advocate for violence or harm to another person. They should not lose their job, they should not be ostracized, and companies should be held civilly liable if they terminate someone for speech outside of the workplace. It’s called a free democracy, perhaps you might be interested in checking it out sometime

The problem with your logic is two-fold, (1) speech doesn't have to advocate for violence or harm for it to create violence and harm, and (2) you're conflating government with culture.

As a group of people, a company is entitled to free speech just like an individual. By restricting their ability to terminate someone for their poor representation of the company, you're effectively forcing them to accept speech that could jeopardize their ability to conduct future business.

A free democracy means speech is free from restriction by the government, but doesn't mean the person speaking is free of consequences from their peers.

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