In general: long-form, balanced, well-researched essay comments are exactly what's exhibited on HN, and precisely the reason many frequent the site.
It is starkly obvious to frequent visitors when comment threads deviate from this norm into highly-polarised, emotional and often baseless and yet miraculously-synchronised agenda. That this only occurs pertaining to particular topics, and reliably so, reveals to incumbent readership that those engaging in this activity, whilst possibly attempting to blend in, are actually standing naked in full view.
Indeed, in some cases this ineptitude suggests a low level of social awareness possibly consistent with that of a language model.
Regardless, tools to assist genuine readers in filtering such content and reversing its own filtering is a suitable mitigation, largely without negative side-effects.
> well-researched essay comments are exactly what's exhibited on HN
For technical subjects. If you want a good conversation about politics, you should go where those experts are.
> yet miraculously-synchronised agenda.
Hey look, a conspiracy theory! As for highly-polarised, emotional and often baseless, you'll find that wherever politics are discussed from forums to the dinner table. There's no point in adding tools so people can create their own bubbles inside of off-topic discussions.
Organised efforts to sway public opinion using technology is not a conspiracy theory, it's present reality and if we don't watch for it and err on the side of caution, it will only get worse.
The stance that this is not worthwhile and that no measures should be employed to mitigate it is negligent at best.
It is starkly obvious to frequent visitors when comment threads deviate from this norm into highly-polarised, emotional and often baseless and yet miraculously-synchronised agenda. That this only occurs pertaining to particular topics, and reliably so, reveals to incumbent readership that those engaging in this activity, whilst possibly attempting to blend in, are actually standing naked in full view.
Indeed, in some cases this ineptitude suggests a low level of social awareness possibly consistent with that of a language model.
Regardless, tools to assist genuine readers in filtering such content and reversing its own filtering is a suitable mitigation, largely without negative side-effects.