[dageshi]

Well, it is in its format. Like Digg and Reddit before it, the addictive part comes from a constant stream of new "stuff" for us to consume.

To anyone looking at us pre reddit/digg many of us would look "addicted" to HN based on our usage of it.

[tyfon]

Yes I won't deny the format is addicting, it's just not specifically designed to optimise addiction like certain other sites.

[Gigablah]

If that were the case, they'd hide the karma score.