It's a totally subjective debate, but IMHO, while the highest quality Reddit comments might be just as good as the highest quality HN comments, I think both the floor and median comment quality levels are much lower on Reddit.
Also HN comments are 95% serious in tone. While joking isn't disallowed, and the occasional high concept satirical comment might get mass upvoted, most jokes are ignored or downvoted. Not the case on Reddit.
Also HN comments are 95% serious in tone. While joking isn't disallowed, and the occasional high concept satirical comment might get mass upvoted, most jokes are ignored or downvoted. Not the case on Reddit.