Most people think they value freedom until it starts costing them something real. Then the language changes. Suddenly it’s about being “practical.” Suddenly there’s nuance. Suddenly the same principles they claimed to care about become negotiable.
That’s why watching someone like Durov is interesting. The pressure didn’t stop after the first wave. It continued. Different country, different methods, same demand underneath: become more cooperative. Most people in that position eventually adjust their position just enough to reduce the cost. Mark does, Pavel hasn’t. That consistency under pressure is rarer than people admit.
Freedom isn’t proven by what someone says when it’s easy. It’s proven by what they still refuse when the cost keeps rising.