Canceling "Hey"
A blog post by the creator of the Hey email service, likening “gypsies” to wolves that should be controlled or deported, prompted many to reconsider paying for a product tied so closely to its founder’s views. Commenters argue over whether this language is inherently racist and dehumanizing toward Roma and other migrants, or a blunt but legitimate reaction to visible problems like homelessness, begging, and public disorder in European cities. The thread broadens into questions about when it is appropriate to “vote with your wallet,” how strictly immigration and public-space laws should be enforced, and whether some topics have become too politicized to be debated productively online.
Overall reaction to the blog post
- Many commenters describe the blog post as racist, dehumanizing, and “dog-whistling,” especially the analogy equating “gypsies” with wolves that are controlled or shot, and “sheep” with natives.
- Others see the post as expressing a common, even “mild,” European frustration with Roma / itinerant groups and public disorder, and argue that critics are overreacting or misreading it.
- Several note this is part of a long pattern of increasingly hard‑right rhetoric from the email service’s cofounder, including past posts praising far‑right figures and mass‑deportation ideas.
Debate over deportation and who is targeted
- One camp reads the post as advocating mass deportation of Roma or other ethnic groups, going beyond specific lawbreakers and including citizens or EU residents.
- Defenders insist it only calls for deporting foreigners who camp in parks or refuse housing, not “all Roma,” and accuse critics of misquoting or conflating ethnicity with behavior.
- Others point out that, in context and given repeated use of a slur, juxtaposition with “shooting wolves,” and prior writings, it is reasonable to interpret it as targeting the ethnic group, not just individual offenders.
- There is extended argument about whether strict, non‑selective enforcement of immigration laws is morally required versus allowing discretion, mercy, or legal reform.
Roma, homelessness, and public space
- Several Europeans describe visible problems with organized begging, encampments, filth, and petty crime tied (in their accounts) to Roma or other migrant groups, and report local laws restricting begging.
- Others stress long histories of Roma persecution, note parallels to past genocidal rhetoric, and argue that homelessness, addiction, and mental illness should be treated as social and health issues, not grounds for ethnicized expulsion.
- There is disagreement on how much homelessness is “race‑neutral” versus heavily shaped by structural racism.
Consumer ethics and canceling the email service
- Some readers canceled or plan to cancel their subscriptions, arguing they won’t financially support someone advocating racist policies.
- Others think canceling a technically good product over a blog post is irrational, “virtue signaling,” or an unscalable standard unless applied to all platforms hosting objectionable speech.
- Alternatives like Fastmail, Proton, Migadu, and Mailmate are mentioned for those seeking to switch.
Meta: moderation and off‑topic concerns
- Some note the thread being flagged, citing HN guidelines against political/ideological battles.
- Others argue the original cancellation post was respectful and that suppressing such discussions makes it harder to address real issues without sliding into hate rhetoric.