I think the parent has the right idea. Partly at least. I mean, there's no denying that since covid in 2020 the web has changed and there's a lot more anger out around. It's not just Hacker News which has changed, it's other platforms too. For example, have you tried to add a comment to a youtube video in 2024? Shadow banning and misuse of downvoting / reporting isn't just limited to HN.