For one thing, 01100011's comment is ambiguous: as in, "This is an off-topic comment, but <whines about model [sic] dialog>", or "I find this submission to be off-topic". Charitably, let's say it's the former. Still, the discussion got off to an acrimonious start.

Submission is clearly on-topic. Country sets up concentration camps; big tech aids and abets at every turn; Google comes this close to building them a bespoke censorship machine. Clearly relevant in a technical forum, beyond merely "gratify[ing] intellectual curiosity". Never forget:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehomag

As far as the quantity of downvotes, far be it from me to suggest that a nationalistic pride and defensiveness might grip the Xi regime's many apologists.

Despite the relatively small size of the HN community, there does appear to be organised action against certain topics here. I often find unusually contentious comments in threads on Chinese and American policies (seperately).

Honest question. What does this have to do with the topic?

Evidence abounds that Russia has funded disinformation efforts, and several indictments have been served to Russian agents and spies that have been working in the US on disinformation campaigns and spying. There's also ample evidence they funded and affected the Leave campaign.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/09/20/us/politics/r...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-bad-boys-of-...

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41182519

https://www.axios.com/senate-reports-russian-interference-20...

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/20/17031772/m...