And most forums break down into toxic fights since the dawn of time. What’s the problem with his view?

On a forum it really is much better when you give your 2c and then forget about the thread than hovering over it intercepting every new utterance. Time to close the browser tab.

Something existing for a long time says nothing about whether it is positive or not.

It was positive enough for people to use it for a long time, while having the ability to change it and not doing so. Surely that means something?

it does not mean it was positive, people do a lot of things since the dawn of time (slavery for example).

the fact that something was used for a long time means only that it was used for a long time, and everything else is up for interpretation.

this dang?

Most of its usage is on platforms where engagement is how they make money. Any kind of engagement. Considering flamewars, nitpicking and arguments are goldmines that capture user attention, it's in the platform's best interest to draw attention to threads via notifications.

Is this the right thing for HN? I don't know. But they've decided it's worth the trade off, I think.

> Dang thinks this basic feature that has existed in forums since the dawn of time promotes toxicity.

It lowers the barrier to entry, coddling and inevitably inviting the lazy, thus nudging the needle towards the lowest common denominator, which is ill-advised.

gatekeeping is toxic

When I bar you from my house because your muddy boots will soil the floor, I have faith that you will somehow survive this terrible injustice.

Gatekeeping is not toxic. Where did people get this idea?