[happytoexplain]

"Why is this news" is almost always an unnecessarily provocative "high-heat low-light" question. It's more substantial to point out mitigating factors and add missing context, as you also did.

[Semaphor]

> "high-heat low-light" question

What does that mean?

[hatefulmoron]

I read it as a metaphorical nod to light bulbs: an inefficient light bulb spends most of its energy toward heat while producing little light. Instead of producing illuminating discussion, a "high-heat low-light" question produces flames.

[Semaphor]

Sounds right, thanks.

[lordgrenville]

It's an idiom from Shakespeare (though nowadays we reverse it, since light is more desirable than heat). https://blog.editors.ca/?p=3435