Humans spend far less trivial amounts of time creating works of literature. A novel may consume three years of an author's life. And yet for years society has been enriched by a lively and often sharply critical literary discourse. By comparison, this is a trivial project, and yet the culture is so much more defensive.

You even threaten to downvote me! (oh my). How can you simultaneously want to change the world and clamor for censorship?

Censorship? Hardly. A downvote is just the easiest way for them to signal their displeasure.

The cultural attitude you see prevalent here defending creators is due to the community's wont to make this a safe place for sharing, especially given the recent efforts at making "Show HN" a first-class citizen.

Constructive criticism is a good thing, but I don't think that's missing from HN. What dwaltrip (and Hytosys below) are suggesting is that your criticism is not in the least bit constructive, and takes a tone that would otherwise negate any constructive bits. I concur.

If you're curious to see how a comment might actually be constructive in the course of being critical, I'd seriously consider erikschoster's comment.

My main point is that you can critically comment without being a dick. I could have been more clear about that.

Also, I wasn't threatening to downvote, I was explaining why I was creating a somewhat low content post.