I&#x27;ve noticed that while HN is a great source of interesting articles, perhaps its greatest characteristic is the intricate debates that ensue.  It would seem that many of the qualities associated with good debate practice are the same as those expected in meaningful discussion on HN: point-by-point counter arguments, use of good sources, expectation of professional tone; in fact, there seems to be little that separates HN from an academic debate club.
Ask HN: Is Hacker News basically a debate club?