I don't think its as bad as all that! I think people do care that reasoned argument seems to be drowned out by toxic soundbites, but there's just currently no good way to interact with the world without using toxic channels. I'm optimistic about someone finding a solution. I also definitely think people care. I think its just that those that don't care are currently amplified.

The internet is toxic! It's not even anonymity, since on places like Facebook people know who you are. It's more the one (or more) steps removed from personal consequences.

Hacker news is one of the few places I find intelligent thoughtful discussion. Occasionally people are jerks, but compared to the internet in general, this place is a calm like on a mountain top.