[codingdave]

I think that is a bit of an illusion --

Scenario 1: You see something that make a good point. You nod and move on... maybe upvote. But the result is that good points are quiet threads, and don't fill up the site with huge discussion because they simply made a point and left it at that.

Scenario 2: "Someone is wrong on the internet!" Downvote! Argue. Get upvotes for proving someone wrong. Busy threads, with higher emotion.

I don't think people come to HN to deliberately argue and criticize. But argumentative threads get more heated, are longer, and take up more of the discussions, and thereby have high visibility.

My personal approach it that I mostly only read the top 1-2 levels of any thread, and try to not go down negative rabbit holes.