Because it's a folkloric tradition instead of a proper feature documented under comment syntax, not everyone knows about it. So half the people use code blocks

Because it's a folkloric tradition instead of a proper feature documented under comment syntax, not everyone knows about it. So half the people use code blocks instead which break on mobile, or double quotes, or use italics, or don't do it at all. Blockquote exists in HTML, why not have syntax for it on HN? Its a 2 line change to the comment processing code + 16 bytes of CSS for arguably one of the most important tools in civilized written discussion forums. Edit: quick example off a frontpage article I randomly clicked (open in mobile to see what I mean) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35015639 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35015639 Another: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35012745 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35012745 It would actually seem the code block line wrapping was "fixed" on mobile which means now code blocks line wrap (I don't think they should) so quotes don't look bad anymore if you use code blocks, but code does :shrug: Edit 2: Yep https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29835072 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29835072