I haven't been to the site in a while, so maybe they changed now. What turned me off the first few times I clicked a link on HN was the constant stream of "subs

I haven't been to the site in a while, so maybe they changed now. What turned me off the first few times I clicked a link on HN was the constant stream of "subscribe-to-our-newsletter" pop-ups and "hey-add-your-comment-here" bouncing boxes. Reading academic papers requires focus and concentration. While I like the idea of comments on papers, I found that site too full of petty distractions to serve that purpose.