All communities (which survive) establish norms of behavior and eject or restrict people who don't abide by them. That doesn't mean the moderation of HN is beyond reproach, but "apartheid" is hyperbolic to the point of absurdity.
Apartheid wasn't about taking privileges away from people as a moderation action. It was about denying inalienable rights to people from birth. Your privilege to post on a forum is voluntarily extended to you by it's operators, and may be rescinded. It's an act of hospitality, not an inalienable right. You don't have a first amendment right to post on a forum and note than I have a first amendment right to compel your speech or demand you host me for dinner.
Apartheid wasn't enforced by mild and easily bypassed forum account restrictions. It was enforced with brutal violence.
People can get so myopic about mild inconveniences introduced to online interactions they expect to be frictionless and that they feel entitled to, and lose all perspective at the drop of a hat.
Apartheid wasn't about taking privileges away from people as a moderation action. It was about denying inalienable rights to people from birth. Your privilege to post on a forum is voluntarily extended to you by it's operators, and may be rescinded. It's an act of hospitality, not an inalienable right. You don't have a first amendment right to post on a forum and note than I have a first amendment right to compel your speech or demand you host me for dinner.
Apartheid wasn't enforced by mild and easily bypassed forum account restrictions. It was enforced with brutal violence.
People can get so myopic about mild inconveniences introduced to online interactions they expect to be frictionless and that they feel entitled to, and lose all perspective at the drop of a hat.