HN doesn't tolerate jokes well because they are usually a disruption to the conversation. If you want to make a joke here you can, but you have to ask yourself whether the joke is lame and a distraction or original and funny enough to derail the conversation momentarily. If your joke gets downvoted into oblivion that's a sign that people feel it's the former.
I generally feel that jokes on HN are acceptable if they are contained within an otherwise useful comment. If you make a comment just to make a joke that's what's not acceptable.
I doubt that anyone was offended. But you will find a very strong negative reaction to jokes in the comments. I think there is a (very wise) desire to avoid a reddit type culture that rewards extended jokes and similar things.
This may well be the community for you, but just be aware that a lot of people are justifiably frightened of what can happen to online communities.
I think a good rule of thumb would be 'would be a waste of someone's time to read this comment'. People value the possibility that we can learn valuable things on Hacker News, but that becomes impossible if you have to wade through layers and layers of pointless jokes.
Not intending to be unwelcoming, but I think it can be a surprise.
> 'would be a waste of someone's time to read this comment'
That's not a good example to use for jokes because people can justify lighthearted humor as an improvement to their day. Having fun is healthy for you, and whatnot.
I think a better way to deal with it is to say that there's a time and place for comedy and HN is not usually that place.
The problem is that some vague reference to a shitty movie isn't fun. There's no witticism in his comment is there? He's effectively saying "this situation can be related to one in a movie".
But I viewed the parallels as interesting and thought others might be interested as well. In the future I'll be sure to make my comments dead pan serious without any humor.
You've been here for almost a year. Have you read the guidelines for HN? Specifically "Resist complaining about being downmodded. It never does any good, and it makes boring reading."
In general, comments in this community move the discussion forward. I'd argue that your original comment added nothing to the discussion and was not intended to, which was the reason I downvoted it.