Comment by pfdietz

You disparage the negativity as "reflexive", but isn't whether the negativity is warranted more important than the pace at which it is delivered, or some oblique critique of its motivation? This looks like an attempt to smear the negativity. Your critique as HNers as not being qualified also looks like an ad hominem argument.

Pace could be driven by the rapidity with which posts fall off the front page or with which comments expand so new comments are far down the list.

I'd turn that around and say the observation that negative comments are upvoted shows that HN readers value them.

I'll admit we could use more steelmanning when critiquing.