What the parent poster was asking - since this link is a single-post page, is what you're expecting to fill the space.
On the main stream, you have multiple columns of data. On a single post, what should be to either side?
Probably nothing.
On the main stream, you have multiple columns of data. On a single post, what should be to either side?
Probably nothing.
I would rather have to scroll down on an article that I can actually read, rather than fit the article on my screen but be unable to read it well.
Wide text only really works for very short text of a few lines. Long text comments on HN tend to suck pretty badly with wide browser windows.