How many is too many (people to piss off)? Take your statement in another context.
Say native dissidents pissing off local government / foreign natural resource exploitists.
Or, americans of african ancestry attempting to be heard / get equal rights in 50's america. They were certainly socially disapproved and silenced by society at large.
Social oppression is the most insidious form of censorship. It needs to be combated with the most vigor and rigor.
I don't disagree with you to an extent, but humans are wired for social behaviors and there is a positive social pressure to be had. Of course your examples are real and pervasive, but we can't throw out the baby with the bathwater.
That being said, this is hacker news which definitely seems more composed than most online forums so I think social pressure here is useful.
Say native dissidents pissing off local government / foreign natural resource exploitists.
Or, americans of african ancestry attempting to be heard / get equal rights in 50's america. They were certainly socially disapproved and silenced by society at large.
Social oppression is the most insidious form of censorship. It needs to be combated with the most vigor and rigor.