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There are plenty of places on the Internet where you can get your "truth" or whatever in a medium of abuse.

The people running this site have asked that this not be one of them.

I say this as a person who appreciates and uses sarcasm more than most... people can communicate just fine, often more effectively, without it.

Plus, it's more than just how something is said. If you read PG's short request, he's looking for a change in attitude in how points are even argued. Argue as colleagues coming to a solution together, not as adversaries trying to take each other down.




I agree that we should stamp out abuse. And I'd love to see less king-of-the-argument-hill behavior around here.

However, you've created a false dichotomy; there are things in the world that are neither abusive nor particularly collegial.

The concern is that in getting rid of the abuse, Hacker News will also get rid of uncomfortable truth.


Point to a single place where the policy even implies that uncomfortable truths are not endorsable?

Like I said, I'm sarcastic - but I definitely have seen HN go downhill since I've been here over the last couple of years. I look at the need to say things more constructively as a learning and growth opportunity.


Uncomfortable truths are uncomfortable. People often confuse discomfort with wrongness.

The policy doesn't have to say that people shouldn't endorse uncomfortable truths for it to have that result. That people will misuse power to keep comfortable is something that you shouldn't have to have explained to you.




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