It's the zeitgeist. HN aggressively self-moderates, the actual moderators have a light but objective touch. With exception to a few characters, I've chatted wit

It's the zeitgeist. HN aggressively self-moderates, the actual moderators have a light but objective touch. With exception to a few characters, I've chatted with people here who have not only changed my beliefs but also changed theirs. The community believes in scientific rigor, but also share illuminating anecdotes. You can't distill HN into a formula. It is the sum of the participants.