This problem is already solved by 2 mechanisms:

1. HN's upvote/downvote system. This allows posts that the audience finds more interesting to move to the top. If you don't want to see something, downvote it. If it's on the top that means other people want to see it.

2. The little [-] icon allow you to close an subtree of conversations with a single click.

Surely it just demonstrates the level of feeling at HN that the privacy issue is actually important, and can people please stop posting articles like this. Post a link to outline.com or the internet archive instead if the content is particularly important.

It's gotten to the point where I assume that the top comment on every story about privacy by a news outlet will be about their hypocrisy. It's pretty disappointing. (Almost like tech workers feel defensive and want to change the subject, or that maybe these upvotes aren't in good faith? If the HN audience actually got organized around this kind of thing certain organizations stand to lose quite a bit.)

I absolutely want to hear about these things but maybe in a little tangents section. Though that means more UI complexity. Hiding the thread works well too.

Totally agree. It’s especially annoying because it’s the top thread.