I had the pleasure of working for Larry and can say that in some ways he was a hero of mine. Not because he was a pornographer, but simply because he did what he pleased and fought like hell to protect that right. He risked everything he had to prove his points because he knew if he failed he would have nothing. I didn't always agree with what we were publishing and producing, but I supported our right to do it. Larry on the other hand eternally supported others right to do the same without question.
America IS a more free place because of Larry. Say what you will about the man, he would not have cared less!
Larry has an interesting take, especially given the current environment.
"You know, a free press is not freedom for the thought you love, but rather for the thought you hate the most. People need to tolerate the Larry Flynts of the world so they can be free." -Larry Flynt
I'm afraid people now see it as an antiquated and outmoded perspective on free speech. His attitude was embraced by progressive people of the late 20th century.
That said, he too had to own his own platform in order to exercise his rights.
He did an unknown amount of sketchy and questionable stuff, but when it came to defending our right to say things the government disapproves of, Flynt was an absolute hero.
Thanks for everything you did for us, Larry. You’ve done good.
I have a friend who interviewed to be CTO of Larry Flynt Publications. She said that when she went in to interview, the first thing they did was sit her in a small office filled with examples of Hustler products and publications. They said, "We'll leave you here for a few minutes to look at what we do. If you decide you're not interested in working with us, you can just leave without checking in with anyone and we'll understand."
I hope freedom of speech and expression does not die with him. He and many others were important in standing up against the fundies and various groups that wanted to the limit the rights that we take for granted today. If you have not seen it yet, I recommend watching “The People Vs. Larry Flynt”.
Do we really have to censor or edit titles to suite a bunch of potentially "offended" people? Oh the irony.
We all know what Hustler is. And if you're a gormless startup founder picking that as a name for your app or product, well that's your fault, learn you some history and watch "The People vs Larry Flint"[0]. Flint's case in the Supreme Court was hugely important, despite being a "purveyor of filth", and strengthened free speech rights in the US, in particular Hustler Magazine vs Jerry Falwell[1].
Edit on top because I don’t want to improperly malign the parent commenter or get undue upvotes. I misunderstood the intent of parent comment and my response was to a criticism of sex work/publication of such, not to a criticism of the ways the title might be misread. Leaving my original comment below for posterity/accountability, and for anyone else who comes along and does think it’s inappropriate to discuss sex work.
No it’s not. Besides being a free speech advocate he helped normalize sex work. I doubt his properties have been especially safe and kind to sex workers, but the general population seeing sex work as “normal but maybe icky to some” has certainly made workers’ lives safer and their work overall less likely to be fraudulently exploited.
I’m not a particular champion of Hustler or Larry Flint, but I definitely think sex work generally deserves to be a part of the social contract and not a whisper and a wink.
Not sure why this light hearted comment seemed to be so upsetting to some. I understood the title but can grasp how some may misconstrue it as “a founder who is a hustler”. I saw this as at least a slightly humorous observation.
Only in that the lack of typographic options for HN titles prevents the clearer Hustler from being used in the title, which might suggest he's a mere “hustler founder”.
would "Hustler" (ie quoted) be better? What specifically about this did you dislike? The idea of a generalised hustler type, as a founder (somebody who founds, and hustles) or .. ?
[+] [-] mtnGoat|5 years ago|reply
I had the pleasure of working for Larry and can say that in some ways he was a hero of mine. Not because he was a pornographer, but simply because he did what he pleased and fought like hell to protect that right. He risked everything he had to prove his points because he knew if he failed he would have nothing. I didn't always agree with what we were publishing and producing, but I supported our right to do it. Larry on the other hand eternally supported others right to do the same without question.
America IS a more free place because of Larry. Say what you will about the man, he would not have cared less!
[+] [-] supr_strudl|5 years ago|reply
That's what's wrong with the "free" world. If something's legal doesn't mean it's moral.
He did what he pleased for sure, but at what expense. Many would argue he contributed to objectifying women. There's always a flip side.
[+] [-] annoyingnoob|5 years ago|reply
"You know, a free press is not freedom for the thought you love, but rather for the thought you hate the most. People need to tolerate the Larry Flynts of the world so they can be free." -Larry Flynt
[+] [-] eplanit|5 years ago|reply
That said, he too had to own his own platform in order to exercise his rights.
[+] [-] vinceguidry|5 years ago|reply
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/17/hustler-has...
[+] [-] netsharc|5 years ago|reply
Hah, safe to assume Mr. Sando is not British ( https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tossing )
[+] [-] kstrauser|5 years ago|reply
Thanks for everything you did for us, Larry. You’ve done good.
[+] [-] jsrcout|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] marcodiego|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] teh_klev|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] RichardCA|5 years ago|reply
If you look at the part starting at 41 minutes in, you see Larry Flynt functioning as the voice of reason and restraint.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/showsporn/
[+] [-] at_a_remove|5 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] f430|5 years ago|reply
TIL interracial porn got Larry shot.
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[+] [-] teh_klev|5 years ago|reply
We all know what Hustler is. And if you're a gormless startup founder picking that as a name for your app or product, well that's your fault, learn you some history and watch "The People vs Larry Flint"[0]. Flint's case in the Supreme Court was hugely important, despite being a "purveyor of filth", and strengthened free speech rights in the US, in particular Hustler Magazine vs Jerry Falwell[1].
[0]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117318/
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Flynt#Legal_battles
[+] [-] eyelidlessness|5 years ago|reply
No it’s not. Besides being a free speech advocate he helped normalize sex work. I doubt his properties have been especially safe and kind to sex workers, but the general population seeing sex work as “normal but maybe icky to some” has certainly made workers’ lives safer and their work overall less likely to be fraudulently exploited.
I’m not a particular champion of Hustler or Larry Flint, but I definitely think sex work generally deserves to be a part of the social contract and not a whisper and a wink.
[+] [-] asxd|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dragonwriter|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ggm|5 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] Clewza313|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tptacek|5 years ago|reply