[pbalau]

> Lobsters isn’t good enough because [...] people are really afraid to comment there because they might mar their image or get their invite revoked.

This is the real problem with HN and with pretty much all other more serious social sites. And the best example of it is you, posting this slightly controversial reply, using a brand new account. Yes, you might actually be a lurker that just created the account to post this, while reading the website for many years, but while I can't prove that's not the case, you can't either prove that is the case.

I wonder what will happen to HN if the karma system gets removed.

[asdff]

I don't think there's any benefit to have all a users comments public facing. Sure have age+points to vet flame accounts, but why should I be able to see everything you've ever written in one click? It is intrusive and also devoid of the contexts of the discussions.