* automatic downranks and delisting from FP, algorithmically by HN
* manual flagging by the users
@dang says there’s little to no manual moderation, but over the years the site has been tuned to only allow a little bit of political discussion
Here are a few useful recent comments by @dang about it:
They don't want to admit it but the truth is that they're all in to the current coup that's happening in Washington right now. That's turning into a fact every single day now.
Does that answer your question?
That email backlog is apparently expanding, ~12--24 hours per dang's recent comments, so both expect and respect that.
For general-purpose abuse, I prefer simply flagging.
To disable flags on an article I'll email mods, that occurs fairly rarely.
If an account seems to be flagrantly violating HN Guidelines, and has had previous warnings (you can use the replies endpoint to find those: <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42571073>), I'll drop an email as well.
> Since some people perceive discussion quality to be (relatively) high on HN
It’s really not at the moment on so many discussion worthy topics. I get it, there will be the same old tropes and opinions but HN does a great job of cutting through the noise and unveiling interesting perspectives.
I’m surprised and a little disappointed. And left wondering where to find the discussions on such topics that are worth reading.
I'd generally defer to actual use as well-known reality, rather than unqualified abuse. If that causes problems with platform goals, then the system should build in checks on such impacts, as HN has.
Hn loves discussing airplanes, but nothing about elons wreckless approach to the faa going forward can be discussed because users are flagging?
Politics has always made up a large part of HN discourse. You can verify this by hitting the firebase API, or just use the search field at the bottom of the page and look into some past discussions around terms like 'Iraq' or 'guantanamo'.
I keep reading about tech news on websites where I’d have expected so see it here first: that was a reason to ask.
2. It will almost certainly be around after homo sapiens.
3. Are these projects in the USA?
4. Is anything preventing NGOs from more efficiently taking up the slack?
5. Why is malaria important to you of all things?
6. Have you ever had to worry about contacting malaria?
7. Isn't this good for ivermectin manufacturers?
> 2. It will almost certainly be around after homo sapiens.
Most illnesses have been around for as long as humans have been around. Yet we still heal the sick.
3. Are these projects in the USA?
They fight malaria around the world.
4. Is anything preventing NGOs from more efficiently taking up the slack?
NGOs including the Gates Foundation also spend billions fighting malaria and other diseases.
5. Why is malaria important to you of all things?
Over a thousand children die every day from malaria.
6. Have you ever had to worry about contacting malaria?
Yes.
7. Isn't this good for ivermectin manufacturers?
It sounds like you find this amusing. Why is 1000 children dying every day funny to you?
Human lives doesn't matter unless they're in the US. Got it.
20k federal workers take "buyout" so far, official says - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42950790 - Feb 2025 (456 comments)
The FAA’s Hiring Scandal - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42944203 - Feb 2025 (537 comments)
What's happening inside the NIH and NSF - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42940257 - Feb 2025 (1422 comments)
GitHub reveals how software engineers are purging federal databases - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42936940 - Feb 2025 (308 comments)
Payments crisis of 2025: Not “read only” access anymore - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42933219 - Feb 2025 (634 comments)
The young, inexperienced engineers aiding DOGE - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42910910 - Feb 2025 (2901 comments)
CDC: Unpublished manuscripts mentioning certain topics must be pulled or revised - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42905937 - Feb 2025 (714 comments)
NSF starts vetting all grants to comply with executive orders - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42886661 - Jan 2025 (485 comments)
That's not a comprehensive list—there are quite a few others—but whether it's the right amount of not is something each HN user will have a different opinion about.
I say despite.. because I judge engagement as a net negative much of the time: I prefer to read HN than write into it, and when I write, I judge myself harshly. I'm writing too much into the politics discussions.
Likely: the owners of ycombinator and hackernews have very specific views and connections to people in the tech industry with very specific views. Tech Bros are taking over, and ycombinator is squarely in the tech-bro camp -- that's the point of the site!
