I would just call it a "pattern", but if you want to be more specific Re your 1/2, perhaps a "pattern of over-simplification". Over-simplification is, of cours

I would just call it a "pattern", but if you want to be more specific Re your 1/2, perhaps a "pattern of over-simplification". Over-simplification is, of course, basically human nature, not specific to HN, and something "scientists" of all stripes fight against in themselves. So, there may be a better one-worder. EDIT: while oversimplification is essentially always a problem, nuance and persuasion are usually at odds. So, it's especially noticeable in contexts where people are trying to persuade each other. The best parts of HN are not that, but rather where they try to inform each other.