alt Hacker News> I'd like to think HN is generally better at this than most communities, but it's hard to imagine we're immune.
This is a zero-barrier-to-entry forum (not even an email required!) that has the eyes of a people prone to being involved with startups. Why would you think in any way this would be better than an average equivalent? Because you don't personally notice it?
There's little barrier to entry, but for the most part the community does good internal policing. Stupid emotional comments are pushed down, and the worst ones are flagged. (I've had a few moments of weakness here, so I'm not trying to be sanctimonious here)
I see a lot of people who conflate "my opinion, which is the correct opinion just won't fly here, so how can you say the community does a good job of self-policing?" I really don't agree with this. Any community is going to hold some opinions you disagree with, and will hold some bad or even wrong opinions. What I generally (but not always) see is HN upvoting comments that are thoughtful and intelligent, not necessarily ones that I think might be correct.