It&#x27;s because &quot;hate speech&quot; must be defined by someone, and who is(&#x2F;are) that someone(s)?<p>Hate speech is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. (see R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, Snyder v. Phelps)<p>If you disagree with that premise, you&#x27;re free to lobby for a an amendment.<p>If you&#x27;re banning hate speech, you&#x27;re not a bastion of free speech in the United States of America.<p>I think if a company is more restrictive than the country you&#x27;re incorporated in (reddit, inc. is a Delaware corporation), &quot;not a bastion of free speech&quot; is a fair description.<p>Totally agree with you that there&#x27;s nothing wrong with being restrictive (this is HN, after all, also not a bastion of free speech).