[keedot]

There are indeed public spaces on the internet, many governments and government bodies have sites that are public where you can file a petition or voice a concern.

Most people (63%) own their homes in America, and there are protections in place for people who rent. Your landlord cannot monitor you.

When it comes to the mall though, it's more a matter of scope and scale. Overhearing something in a mall affects a handful of individuals and the intent was not to broadcast. If you stand up on a table in the cafeteria and start spouting hate speech, you can and will be escorted out by security.

The internet is different, because you cannot accidentally overhear a conversation. Said anywhere on the internet, especial a place like reddit of HN, it is viewable by the entirety of internet users. So direct comparisons to the physical world will always fall short.