I am op (asked the question) and even though I don't agree with throwaway, I appreciate him having the time to respond (so I upvoted.earlier to try to offset the downvotes).

Im also downvoted btw, so this goes both ways.

This is ridiculous. How is graying out a comment on Hacker News "holding to task" anyone?

The only result this achieves is telling these people with "reprehensible ideas" that they need to take their discussion elsewhere and avoid any communication with people who don't share their opinion.

This is the opposite of productive.

Before the era of identity politics that was virtuous, not so much in an identity politics era.