I think this is where the "community" metaphor breaks down; HN is not the equivalent of a civilization where a thousand flowers need to bloom to preserve the in

I think this is where the "community" metaphor breaks down; HN is not the equivalent of a civilization where a thousand flowers need to bloom to preserve the intellectual integrity of society; it is the equivalent of the club you shouldn't join if they'd have you as a member. The problem is not that people self-segregate into (multiple) communities where there is a common creed as to what ideas are worthy of discussion; the problem is when there is a suffocating universal consensus where there are ideas that have no home. There is no (useful) better, more open-minded community; there are just places where you can say things you shouldn't say on HN and vice versa. There's nothing wrong with circlej-rks as long as every jerk has a circle.