Just curious, but why not automate your link to the previous discussion? Why does Hacker News rely on people like you to post links to previous discussions? If there has been 3 discussions of an essay, over the course of 8 years, why not list all 3 discussions, when someone posts it again in the year 2021?

This already exists -- the "past" link under the submission title.

I don't think the 'past' link conforms to current best design patterns. We should refactor it so that it automatically posts a comment on the article.

Someone caring enough to look and post the links is a high-pass filter for interestingness.

Isn't the same link being posted over and over already such a filter?

Maybe of some kind, but not the same.

I'm reluctant to introduce mechanical postings for anything because it's important for the content here to have variety and not be predictable. And also to be related to the people in the community.

And thank you for this. Despite my gripes with it, HN is indeed a community,not a 'platform'. Thinks like this policy keep it this way