HN isn't "delicate". But HN tries to keep a high signal-to-noise. That means, generally, aggressively downvoting off-topic comments including attempts at humour

HN isn't "delicate". But HN tries to keep a high signal-to-noise. That means, generally, aggressively downvoting off-topic comments including attempts at humour (that aren't otherwise substantial). Not doing this means that threads quickly devolve into reddit-like grabs to try to be clever. Adding sexist language is presumably what dang is referring to by bannable offense (then realising it was a bad joke).