What would be something "divisive", in your opinion? I think some very divisive topics are discussed fairly regularly here, among them:

1. Gender politics

2. NSA/surveillance

3. Vim/Emacs

And I could name at least 2-3 regular commenters on HN who fall pretty cleanly into each of the opposing sides of these issues (ok, maybe not Emacs, but all the others).

Just because we're not degenerating into flame wars doesn't mean we don't discuss divisive topics.

There's a lot of populations on HN. Some of us avoid those topics like the plague. So no general indictment can be made.

Those topics are poisonous because they can't be driven to a conclusion in two paragraphs or less. And most everything's been said, so they run in circles rehashing tired points. Not to say they aren't important topics. But it takes an essay of 100 pages to cover all the ground, or a PhD even. But everybody has opinions, often based on whatever they just were thinking about. Their arguments come off as sophomoric (which they mostly are). Folks point that out, and away they spin.

> Those topics are poisonous because they can't be driven to a conclusion in two paragraphs or less.

They are poison on voting sites because one side quickly becomes grey. Votes do nothing but squelch conversation, and many choose to self-censor to avoid that.

Don't forget self-driving cars.

The most divisive thing you can do on HN is point out the obvious true fact that there's no such thing as a self-driving car yet.

So what are you suggesting, that we all drive diesel cars?

No way. Volkswagen is a major proponent of diesel cars, and as we all know VW was created by Hitler.

He also wrote emacs.

4. Manned space exploration

There can be pretty good diversity of well-informed and well-argued opinion here. I'm not sure I would call it divisive, but take a look at any of the threads regarding surveillance/police states, economic inequality, geopolitics, etc-- lots of people taking different positions, though admittedly there are a few positions that are more dominant than others.

Interestingly, I think that the SJW-phenomenon would be divisive here as well, but it's seldomly mentioned because of how inane the events which prompt discussion are.

Edit: I appear to have struck a nerve somewhere.

Yawn. That sounds like your typical "this forum is going downhill" sort of talk. Do you have anything to back your claim?

The only thing you can earn here by leaving a mildly divisive comment is a shadowban.

Just out of interest, what would be considered mildly divisive on here, besides aything political that disagrees with the HN consensus?

Be careful that comment is starting to sound divisive. You should edit the word shadowban to "Hug and Rainbows"

You should be shadowbanned!!