although the format is similar, reddit and HN are very different sites, and imo that's a good thing.

when i visit HN, i expect the articles to be topical and for the discourse to be informative and interesting. somewhat amazingly, my expectations are usually met here, which makes the site quite a gem.

at the same time, i don't always want that. sometimes i just want to see a true train wreck unfold in the comments. in a way i even appreciate the donald trump and hate subreddits. if there are ideologies spreading that can impact my life, i would prefer to go to the source and read their actual words than have the ny times regurgitate them to me.

there are benefits to the hands-on moderation and the wild west styles. the only optimal solution is having a wide range of choices.