[quickthrower2]

The real question is not so much "can I do it on HN or other niche forum X" but "can I do it anywhere where people with polar opinions can have a reasonable debate", and even more interesting "can I say this in public, where my face is in punching distance" and then the ultimate "can I say this in an election campaign" (at which point even basic facts are off limits).

[velhartice]

I would wager most folks on the keyboard warpath (or podium/camera) would be much more civil with their alleged target if they were sitting across the table from them.

[bheadmaster]

Are you implying that internet giving voice to people without power to do violence is a bad thing? Should only strong and powerful be given freedom to speak?

[bheadmaster]

Why is that the real question?

Are you saying that if enough people get angry at your words, your freedom of speech doesn't matter anymore?

[quickthrower2]

Individual forums can decide what is on/off topic. I can see why a forum would want to control what topics are on and off topic.

Obviously you can say anything you like on unmoderated places like 4chan, but what does that prove?

[bheadmaster]

This whole thread is beyond the point, since the original commenter asked which are the topics that you can't discuss on HN. Your replies only confirm that Covid is indeed a topic that you can't discuss on HN.

---

I'll reply for completeness anyway:

> I can see why a forum would want to control what topics are on and off topic.

There's a difference between banning flamewars and banning any kind of discussion. I am talking about the latter, not the former, which did indeed happen during Covid.

> Obviously you can say anything you like on unmoderated places like 4chan, but what does that prove?

Indeed, 4chan was the place where you could see discussion about the Covid policies and the media claims, from masks to lockdowns and mandatory vaccines - in fact, it was the one of the only places you could talk about it. Many of the things discussed there turned out to be true.

[Brotkrumen]

I find COVID to be an especially bad example. the whole spectrum is represented in politics.