Discussions are better when we concentrate on the most interesting or substantive things in an article, instead of the most provocative ones.

You could think of this as the Principle of Charity for articles: http://philosophy.lander.edu/oriental/charity.html

On the other hand, treating things too generously is a good way to find yourself down a rabbit-hole. Some ideas really are worthless (note that if no other ideas are worthless, the idea I'm expounding here is worthless, by definition), and it's good to be able to recognize them before you waste too much mental energy.

> treating things too generously

That's a risk I don't think HN is in much danger of, but the Principle of Charity addresses this case as well as the other.

Could we get the Principle of Charity added to the guidelines? In both this context you just mentioned, and the more normal context of discourse.

We're thinking about it. This is the sort of thing one thinks about for a long time.

good to know