Since we are on the meta side of HN usage, I'm really curious about why people here take time off to discuss their opinions at length. I occasionally throw an idea or two out there to test what sort of response they would get, but trying to convince someone out of their firmly held beliefs by arguing with them at length in the threads? That looks like a complete waste and it is unsettlingly abundant. Especially when the topic is a grey area where stakes are high. High for someone else of course. Not the people who discuss these things.