1. If you are writing self-admittedly inflammatory material, and you get inflammatory responses, you should try stopping doing that and see what happens before suggesting changes in HN. People are mirrors.
2. You can flag inappropriate comments (click on their link or parent link for the flag link to appear). [EDIT maybe there's a karma threshold to see the flag link.]
I think swearing and meanness is very rare on HN. I would say there is a fair bit of "scrappiness" - argumentativeness/combativeness - which sometimes undermines the productivity of the discussion. But although annoying, it's quite different from mean spiritedness.
The karma threshold to flag comments is just as minimal as the threshold to flag stories, but it would be much easier to see if you didn't have to go to the comments actual page.
Thinking on this further, HN could have flagged the submission, instead of being drawn into attacking it.
There are so many interesting articles on the web, why give their space to an abusive one? If HN has civil standards, shouldn't we ignore articles that fall below those standards?
Any argument that an article makes - even the most subversive and intrinsically inflammatory - can be articulated in a civil manner. And I think these would be extremely intellectually stimulating.
I normally avoid being inflammatory. I wrote my original post too quickly and late at night. I agree it wasn't well worded and accepted (almost) all criticisms. I don't think that forgives people saying FU or similar. There is a difference between attacking and crossing the line with epithets.
Thanks for replying. I think you did the best to rectify the problem you created. And I agree that your error doesn't excuse others' errors. You're both wrong (although the initiator is generally seen as being more in the wrong, "who started it").
But the most effective way for you to change this is to change yourself rather than to try change other people. Be the change you want to see in the world.
Agree with Number 1. If the article was titled "How to increase company loyalty and reduce turnover?" The "Fucking Asshole" comment would have been the top comment.
2. You can flag inappropriate comments (click on their link or parent link for the flag link to appear). [EDIT maybe there's a karma threshold to see the flag link.]
I think swearing and meanness is very rare on HN. I would say there is a fair bit of "scrappiness" - argumentativeness/combativeness - which sometimes undermines the productivity of the discussion. But although annoying, it's quite different from mean spiritedness.