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0 pointschimeracoder1y ago0 comments

> Like all other forums, public and private, HN has an ideological filter. I'm as surprised as the next person that the HN ideological filter turned out not to be permissive enough to discuss the downfall of the free society that fostered its creation.

Is it that surprising? As a longtime member, this seems perfectly consistent with the general bent of the website. Collectively, HN has long been extremely comfortable with authoritarianism and far right ideologies, as long as those opinions are expressed in a framing that conveys intellectualism and "civility". Those same expectations are weaponized to drive out dissenting voices, which creates a positive[0] feedback loop.

Honestly, if anything, I'm surprised that this comment thread is (reasonably) lucid, because that's not how a lot of other comment threads recently on similar issues have gone.

[0] In the literal (non-normative) sense: a positive feedback loop is one which amplifies the effects, whether or not the end effects are "good" or "bad".

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3 comments · 1 top-level

Jensson1y ago· 2 in thread

> Collectively, HN has long been extremely comfortable with authoritarianism and far right ideologies, as long as those opinions are expressed in a framing that conveys intellectualism and "civility".

HN also does the same for far left authoritarian ideologies, those are also here and upvoted. I don't see how this pushes out anyone.

chimeracoderOP1y ago

> HN also does the same for far left authoritarian ideologies, those are also here and upvoted.

Appropriately, this reply (which is exactly what I was expecting) is itself an example of the effect I'm describing: the false presumption that two point which can be distinguished are inherently equivalent and comparable.

> I don't see how this pushes out anyone.

Given your other extensive other comments about these topics, I can understand why you don't think this dynamic would push anyone out, and I also don't think we're going to see eye to eye on any of this.

Jensson1y ago

I believe in the Scandinavian model. Which means socialized healthcare and free higher education, atheist education, and abortion rights, but also means voter ID, kick out illegal immigrants, right to work, no affirmative action in college admission etc.

I think you Americans are crazy both on the left and the right, I am criticizing the left more since that is more represented here, there is no need to criticizing the right since so many do it already.

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