Hacker News Reader

Comment by smcl | Hacker News Reader

But Musk doesn't want a platform for "free speech" - he wants a platform where guys like him can do or say what they like without repercussions, but where he can crack down on anyone he doesn't like.

Like it or not Twitter is about as good a compromise as you're going to get. The "free speech" places like Truth Social and Gab will happily boot you off if they don't like you. Twitter have a TOS where they are very forgiving - for the most part issuing suspensions for violations and allowing you to delete TOS-breaking tweets rather than banning you. The line for Twitter seems to be when there is actual real-world harm that can be directly attributed to your actions on the platform. So if you're getting banned from Twitter you need to have fucked up big time

View on HN

As much as I would like to believe otherwise, I think I agree. Musk is all about Musk. Everything is a tool to accommodate that process.

I still think he is the best thing that came out of Paypal, but arguably that is not a tall order.

Assuming the user's comment meets the legal definition of 1A speech and is not porn, if you can show me a single instance where anyone that posted a comment that was either removed or censored in some way by anyone with access at Gab, I will personally send you USD $50 in crypto at any address you specify in the comment, after I corroborate your example/evidence with Gab's management.

I've been on Gab since its inception - the only type of comments/users that get booted are those who engage in illegal speech. Illegal speech != distasteful/hateful/politically-charged/racist/sexist/divisive/etc.

https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-re...

Is hate speech right? In most cases, probably not unless you're saying things like "f..k all pedophiles who rape children", then it's righteously motivated. Is it legal? Yes. This is a very important distinction and what gives the USA its unique character and distinguishing trait among ALL other nations who do not have these types of freedoms codified in their constitutions...in fact, in many countries you'd be sacked quietly for saying the "wrong" thing - where "wrong" is defined by whomever happens to be in power (e.g. Russia, China come to mind)

User 3 in this article was banned for "spam" which as far as I am aware is not illegal. Gizmodo received a response from Gab saying "spam is not free speech."

https://gizmodo.com/even-the-freest-free-speech-site-still-b...

Also, HN user encryptluks2 says he was banned "for making a post asking how are all the domestic terrorists Trump supporters doing after the capitol riot." They may be able to give you the info to verify.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26339259

Also, any form of sexual content is banned on gab which is also generally protected free speech. I'm not aware of anyone having been banned for it but I'm sure they are out there, and if not it is easy enough to test.

I can't message that guy directly nor can I reply to his comment to ask for more info. That kind of speech definitely falls into legal 1A speech. It also seemed like he was baiting - which is as you pointed out, not illegal speech.

I'd also like you to consider another possibility - people on the internet lie and distort the truth. A lot. Eg. he may have gotten banned, but not for what he says here on HN. Or he may not have been banned at all but knows he'll get upvotes on HN if he bashes Gab, which was initially backed by YCombinator....until it wasn't. I'll let you figure out why they stopped supporting them.

These places with less free speech aren't even as far away as Russia or China. Hate speech is illegal in Australia for instance.

Didn't peg Australia for a repressive country/government. If this is really the case, meaning, laws are codified against "hate speech", it's pretty much the beginning of the end of them, IMHO. Free expression should be as close to absolute as possible, everywhere....

Reply on news.ycombinator.com