[Adlai]

It's worth noting that HN does adjust article rankings:

http://www.righto.com/2013/11/how-hacker-news-ranking-really...

Compare the gradual slide from the peak of other articles from the same time as the one in question:

http://hnrankings.info/9560839,9561606,9561693,9561599,95619...

Moderated forums aren't censored, but they do get... moderated. What else did you expect?

[Dylan16807]

Sometimes moderation steps in, but that's not needed most of the time when user flagging exists.