Fair enough. Though I guess where that leads me is that by encouraging that level of interaction, this medium may still be leading to the state OP is concerned

Fair enough. Though I guess where that leads me is that by encouraging that level of interaction, this medium may still be leading to the state OP is concerned about. You suggested OP might be reductionist - but if that’s the case, it’s evidence of a spiral downwards into reductionism that’s driven by decontextualization. OP sees reductionism, then ends up reinforcing it, so to speak. And if we accept that, then OP’s premise seems likely to be true if most HN users are doing most of their “social” engagement in decontextualized spaces like this one, rather than remaining rooted in community and the fullness of others’ humanity.