>rational, emotionally detached conversations about complex and sensitive subjects would be beneficial to society Yes, only when they are exactly that - ration

>rational, emotionally detached conversations about complex and sensitive subjects would be beneficial to society Yes, only when they are exactly that - rational, and emotionally detached. All conversations on sensitive subjects fall into 3 categories: * Facts+logic vs facts+logic * Facts+logic vs feelings * Feelings vs feelings HN is a rare place on the internet where one can frequently see "Facts+logic vs facts+logic" conversations even on sensitive topics. The vast majority of conversations on the internet about sensitive topics end up being "feelings vs feelings". The problem with "feelings vs feelings" is that by design it's never about fact finding or truth. It's always about friend-foe identification. Any person who starts a conversation from the "feelings" position views the conversation as a way to categorize the other person as either a "friend" or a "foe".