I disagree; by the poster's definition, HN failed. It started out discussing technical items and startups, lasted for a while, and the topic has been completel

I disagree; by the poster's definition, HN failed. It started out discussing technical items and startups, lasted for a while, and the topic has been completely diluted to "anything at all which is either new or interesting." In the words of the post, it has "pivoted to an off-topic focus." PerlMonks is a good example, though. I agree that the presumed link in the post between topicality and "intelligence" is a strained one.