Off topic: the GPDR banner on this site is a good example of dark pattern. Scrolling into a webpage does not mean I consent collecting personal info about me.
The downvotes on the original post are probably because the comment is being seen as off topic. Sometimes comments like that are accepted, sometimes not, I can't say I've noticed much of a patter there other than they are far less welcome on HN than, for example, Reddit.
I usually play safe and reserve side-topic comments to a post-script after something more immediately relevant (and if I don't have something to say on the thread topic, keep them to myself).
The downvotes on this one are going to be because of complaining about downvotes!