You are correct. I figure that HN and the commenters on the articles about the issue are the people who know about this issue, the general public perhaps not so

You are correct. I figure that HN and the commenters on the articles about the issue are the people who know about this issue, the general public perhaps not so much. Going by those assumptions, rule out the general public, and while I still don't have a random sample, I have something. Pretty much the only thing around without actually polling. And that only thing concludes the opposite of "lots of people are supporting them." But whatever, that's all smoke.