One benefit of keeping HN online is that it provides a place to have a discussion of the effects of other sites' blackouts. In many ways blacking out HN is pre

One benefit of keeping HN online is that it provides a place to have a discussion of the effects of other sites' blackouts. In many ways blacking out HN is preaching to the choir. On the one hand it's a symbolic gesture which won't do much to raise awareness among HN visitors; on the other hand, such a move adds one more name to the list of protesting sites and has value in that respect.