Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Are you suggesting we didn’t have conversations like this, quite successfully, on Usenet and other message boards prior to the CDA being passed in 1996?

I can assure you, we did.



And why don't we use Usenet anymore? I'm too young to have used it, but Wikipedia offers a hint: "Almost all unmoderated Usenet groups have become collections of spam".[1] There were other factors too, but this seems like a major one. Who would want to stay on an unmoderated, spam-filled board? You have freedom of speech but there'd be no one around to listen.

The evidence suggests users like moderated spaces. Otherwise wouldn't your utopias of unmoderated free speech still be flourishing? Why aren't you on Usenet right now, and making your arguments over there?

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet#Moderated_and_unmoderat...




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: