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Christopher Hitchens - Free Speech

hitch archive · talk · Watch on YouTube

Free speech, censorship & civil liberties

What it is

Christopher Hitchens delivers a speech defending freedom of speech, including the right of audiences to hear offensive speakers and a take on the fire-in-a-crowded-theatre line. It is framed around the Charlie Hebdo attack.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN invokes it in nearly every content moderation and censorship thread as the most eloquent case for free speech.

  • 9 people recommended it
  • 9 different months
  • 6 strong recommendations
  • first 2018, last 2022

What HN commenters said

  1. “Christopher Hitchens summarized my own opinion when he gave this speech, and he did it far more eloquently than I ever could”

    Eloquent defense of free speech

    0x7f800000, 2018-02 · Strong recommendation · in “Is America having second thoughts about free speech?”

  2. “The oration by Hitchens is his best.”

    Hitchens' best oration against hate speech laws

    chroma, 2019-06 · Strong recommendation · in “YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki addresses hate speech controversy”

  3. “his talk is worth watching for a strong understanding of why free speech is so vital.”

    Explains why free speech is vital

    Reedx, 2019-08 · Strong recommendation · in “8chan goes dark after hardware provider discontinues service”

  4. “There is a brilliant speech by the late Christopher Hitchens [0] on free speech that I must have seen a dozen times.”

    Brilliant speech on freedom for those who think differently

    dlivingston, 2020-05 · Strong recommendation · in “The Inevitable Coronavirus Censorship Crisis”

  5. “bonus (the whole speech is quotable)”

    Whole speech is quotable on audience's right to hear

    arminiusreturns, 2020-10 · Strong recommendation · in “Twitter still hasn't unlocked the New York Post's account”

  6. “I would much rather live in a world where this person may be heard than likewise.”

    Warning against false security of consensus

    walru, 2018-10 · Recommendation · in “Are Black Holes Actually Dark Energy Stars?”

  7. “If you have a few minutes, check the beginning of this talk [1] about free speech.”

    Hitchens addresses the fire example at the start

    tdons, 2021-01 · Recommendation · in “Facebook Indefinitely Suspends Trump”

  8. “I like Christopher Hitchen's take on matters like these”

    Hitchens on protecting offensive speakers

    Shosty123, 2021-06 · Recommendation · in “YouTube reinstates Right Wing Watch”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: free speech, christopher hitchens, censorship, debate, civil liberties

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