[grzm]

Likely because discussions on this topic generally generate much more heat than light. That's not to say the issue isn't important or worth discussing; some forums (virtual and otherwise) are better suited for constructive discussions on a given topic than others. HN members often flag such submissions even when they agree with the premise for just this reason.

To be clear, as I understand it, submissions receive a "[flagged]" tag when enough community members have flagged it: it's not a moderator action.