Eugine_Nier comments on Schelling fences on slippery slopes - Less Wrong

179 Post author: Yvain 16 March 2012 11:44PM

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Comment author: wedrifid 14 March 2012 04:29:42AM 10 points [-]

I wonder how many people would use this example nowadays if they knew that it comes from a WW1-era U.S. Supreme Court opinion upholding a ten year prison sentence for sedition against an anti-war activist -- whose crime was to distribute pamphlets arguing that military conscription is unconstitutional under the 13th Amendment, which prohibits "involuntary servitude."

Wow. The 'fire' thing doesn't even fit well as an analogy in that context. Your country scares me!

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 14 March 2012 04:42:27AM 3 points [-]

I believe the theory was that he was promoting illegal activity, i.e., draft dodging.