This "community" can be quite toxic and is easily triggered by anything "anecdotal". Typical coping strategy is doing penance as an introduction to it, like "I'm probably going to be down voted for this". This sort of preemptive obedience seems to have a mildly soothing effect on a mob of nerds.

On the other hand ... Why would anybody care about HN karma.

Having said that, I'm also curious and promise I'll upvote him for it. No matter how superstitious it might be.