I had to look this up. That's a pretty sad accusation off the bat isn't it? One of my opinions I'll share is that I think even HN, supposedly one of the better discussion forums - why I write things here - is also blighted by "toxic internet culture" of assuming the worst in everybody. Also I think the "move fast" design is deliberately not conducive to conversation, so I am wondering if you will see this response.

From a British perspective I think the rioters attempting a coup and then backtracking to calling it "a protest" is laughable. At least one should have the courage of ones convictions. If you're going to try a coup you damn well better know it's going to succeed - as the alternative in every other historical example is getting lined up against the wall. If what you say is true then saying "oops only joking... it was just a fun legitimate protest" makes them cowards. So I simply can't entertain an argument that anyone defending a failed coup as "free speech" is serious.

Mr Cohen has a lot of good things to say, and I think I get what you're talking about after watching the clip you linked, thank you.

> "the age of evidential argument is ending and knowledge is de-legitimised.... by a handful of internet companies that amount to the greatest propaganda machine in history."

Couldn't have put it better myself. Pleased that he cited what is the subject of a chapter in my book Digital Vegan; the role of Facebook in Myanmar - which sadly few people will touch. How SBC actually puts it is "freedom of speech is not freedom of reach" - a nice turn. But then he flounders a little, not coming right out against Zuckerberg's "bullshit" reasoning as a purely driven by greed, he softens it as the "ideological imperialism" of the 'Silicon Six'. Cohen being accused of anti-Semitism isn't something I'd imagine can't happen these days either.

But in the end, SBC's beef seems to be with the unelected power of BigTech, and unfortunately he isn't a great philosophical scholar, by his own introductory remarks. What is to be done? He doesn't seem to know how to frame those who disingenuously deploy good arguments for bad ends... which is what I think the nub of your "lots of people equate freedom of speech with freedom from consequences" line. Zuckerberg couldn't give a fuck, and Cohen is correct in calling him a "bullshitter" in the strictest sense of Harry Frankfurt's definition. But to suggest that FB or any other company could "purge lies and conspiracies from their platform" is naive. There wouldn't be much left, especially of politicians and business people have to say - and when he hits that Cohen turns it into a damn joke to soften it! That's why comedians can say certain things that other's can't... up to a point. And then they risk losing their platform. So, much as I love Sascha Baron-Cohen he drifts into waters out of his depth. That said, I'm 99% with him (not afraid to be out of my depth).