[acjohnson55]

> The left has been engaging in total war against the right for about a decade.

Funny, I see it as almost the exact opposite. The backlash against Obama was a weaponization of politics on a scale not seen since the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. I'd characterize the corporate response as businesses trying to operate in a cosmopolitan market, in a climate of nativist politics.

And your viewpoint feels especially ironic when a common conservative/libertarian argument against government interventions to advance civil rights is that the market will work it out. It seems we see how serious folks actually are about that idea, in these rare instances when it plays itself out in reality. Because let's also not pretend that this represents some type of long-term investment in social justice.

And is doubly ironic that you seem to be advocating that the government punish a private entity for stances that seem well within its rights.

[rhapsodic]

> And is doubly ironic that you seem to be advocating that the government punish a private entity for stances that seem well within its rights.

It is ironic, I'll admit.

But in total war, there are no rules. You inflict suffering on your enemy by whatever means are available.

The left gleefully destroyed a family-run pizza joint because of the answer one of the family members gave to a reporter. They made an example of this family for the rest of the country to learn from: "Publicly express a political opinion we disagree with, and run the risk of being destroyed."

It's only fair that Ben Chesky and Airbnb incur a similar risk for their forays into the political arena. And they're very rich, powerful and well-connected people, who are backed by other rich, powerful and well-connected people. It would take something as powerful as a Republican-controlled federal government to do them some serious damage.

And if that happens, I'm certainly not to rush to their defense.

[grzm]

The left gleefully destroyed a family-run pizza joint

Would you elaborate on this? What are you referring to?

[rhapsodic]

Memories Pizza. Google it.

[grzm]

Thanks! If you're going to bring up Memories Pizza, I think it's fair to compare this to Pizzagate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzagate_conspiracy_theory

The idea that we have no further recourse other than total war is very troubling. I don't think a lot of people are willing to give up trying to work together quite yet.

[caminante]

The only common denominator appears to be pizza.

Memories Pizza's owners were interviewed about Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act [0] and answered a hypothetical question by saying they wouldn't cater a gay wedding, but they'd serve anyone. The reporter ran a headline, "RFRA: First Michiana business to publicly deny same-sex service." This was false on numerous levels, but went viral, triggering a backlash.

Pizzagate is a human trafficking conspiracy with different mechanics. I guess Comet Ping Pong employees got backlash for allegations, but the similarities end there.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Freedom_Restoration_...

[grzm]

Pizzagate similarly went viral across social media. Is the meaningful distinction you'd like to make is that it was reported in a newspaper? In this case, Michael Flynn, then part of Trump's transition team, tweeted vague insinuations of child sex crimes which surely did nothing to dampen suspicions.

U decide - NYPD Blows Whistle on New Hillary Emails: Money Laundering, Sex Crimes w Children, etc...MUST READ!

Even after the shooting, Flynn's son tweeted explicitly:

Until #Pizzagate proven to be false, it'll remain a story. The left seems to forget #PodestaEmails and the many 'coincidences' tied to it.

Here on HN there were plenty of comments if not actively promoting the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, entertaining the possibility that it was legit. The employees of Comet Ping Pong and nearby businesses received backlash, including death threats. This escalated to a shooting by someone who took it upon himself it investigate the matter personally. Fortunately no one was shot. Pizzagate was false on numerous levels.

Both of them are misrepresentations that went viral, supported by people driven by partisan issues. I think both of them are atrocious and shouldn't be excused. They are unfortunately a symptom of the terrible state of current political discourse.

I'm genuinely interested in the distinction you draw between them.

[euyyn]

Thanks for the info. I fall on the left in the American spectrum, and I would never support anybody making death threats to another person. So please update your generalization that "the left did that;" it's wrong and blinding.

[tinalumfoil]

I don't know if we just interpreted the parent differently, but I don't follow your reasoning.

> The backlash against Obama was a weaponization of politics on a scale not seen since the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements.

Obama's a well-known politician. It would be pretty crazy to say we can't attack or protest our own government. I'd be interested in how you extracted this point from OP, because I completely missed it.

> And your viewpoint feels especially ironic when a common conservative/libertarian argument against government interventions to advance civil rights is that the market will work it out.

I also don't see the connection to government intervention. Businesses have the same rights as people to express their opinions, investors/owners willing. Obviously there's consequences to those actions, and certain SV startups are already on thin ice as far as their legal ability to operate is concerned. But it's up to the American constituency if they want to bring these issues to their representatives attention.

> And is doubly ironic that you seem to be advocating that the government punish a private entity for stances that seem well within its rights.

If a constituency doesn't like what a business is doing it is fully within the rights of the constituency to change to change the law. Despite the law, people tend to be really unsympathetic to wealthy businesses, and political lobbying law has been ripe to change for years.