> The blocking of links from HN was 100% about silencing discussion _happening on HN_.
How does blocking HN from linking to a site silence discussion on HN? Because, as you say, "100% of the discussion was happening on HN" which seems to imply that blocking HN from linking didn't actually silence the discussion.
> Both of these mean that if you can't link to Asahi Linux content, it can't be the topic of discussion
You can link to it - you just get the "HN referer" block page just as other people get other block pages (eg. [0], [1]. Haven't noticed people moaning about how those sites are silencing discussion on HN, mind.)
Copy and paste the URL and you can read the link perfectly happily[2].
[0] Much like many of us in Europe get block pages for sites in the US who can't be bothered with GDPR or the cookie law.
[1] Or those of us who aren't subscribed to the various news sites which show a paragraph before putting up a blocker.
How does blocking HN from linking to a site silence discussion on HN? Because, as you say, "100% of the discussion was happening on HN" which seems to imply that blocking HN from linking didn't actually silence the discussion.
> Both of these mean that if you can't link to Asahi Linux content, it can't be the topic of discussion
You can link to it - you just get the "HN referer" block page just as other people get other block pages (eg. [0], [1]. Haven't noticed people moaning about how those sites are silencing discussion on HN, mind.)
Copy and paste the URL and you can read the link perfectly happily[2].
[0] Much like many of us in Europe get block pages for sites in the US who can't be bothered with GDPR or the cookie law.
[1] Or those of us who aren't subscribed to the various news sites which show a paragraph before putting up a blocker.
[2] Or someone pastes an archive.ph link.