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by matheusmoreira·8y ago·view on hn ↗
The fact a bunch of /pol/ nazis make use of free speech doesn't invalidate free speech. It doesn't make free speech a "nazi talking point", either. It was Evelyn Beatrice Hall, an English woman, who wrote: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". She was describing Voltaire's beliefs.

Democracy means giving everyone a chance, even those nazis that nobody likes. You can't say you're tolerant and at the same time be intolerant towards that specific group because history condemns them. You've got to be better than that on principle. If you claim that rationality should prevail, then engage them on those terms rather than banning them outright.

I don't associate with flat Earth theorists because I've convinced myself those are false based on my current knowledge of physics. For me, that matter is pretty much settled. However, the people from /pol/ sometimes cite published scientific articles I'd never seen before in order to substantiate their claims. While I take their politicized posts with extra grains of salt, I do check their references and try to form my own opinion on the matter. Many times I end up no wiser than before, sometimes I reach different conclusions. The point is: if people had simply banned their discourse outright, I wouldn't have reached any conclusion at all.

I simply don't want anyone else drawing conclusions for me.