This is not a new account.

The problem with HN comments is not just new users who do not know that the expectation is of colleagues discussing a problem to work to a solution, but also of long standing accounts that allow themselves to be "trolled" by emotive subjects.

Some people should stay away from gun control; abortion; Israel / Palestine; vi vs emacs; etc etc.

It'd be great to see some research on online communities where approaches to this have been tried.

Your ridiculous hyperbole undermines your attempt to position yourself as the intelligent side of your false-dichotomy.