[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.

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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.