Hacker News Reader

I don't sense any "hatred and vitriol" in that comment. At worst, I sense frustration - and in light of the million or so needless deaths from COVID in my country alone, that seems rather justified.

The mechanism is this typically:

1. Deny fact "X" either historical, scientific, or otherwise provable -- meanwhile never disclosing your ulterior motives.

2. Argue from first principles that people who believe "X" should be allowed to say it no matter how repulsive or dangerous it is.

3. Debate endlessly to make it seem that "X" is more controversial in its widespread belief than it is. (Search HN for the Ivermectin). Aso, make sure to engage in whataboutery, false premises, strawman arguments, or demonization of those who support "X". (See Dr. Fauci)

4. Complain when someone (or a group of people or a corporation) decide to not let your arguments against "X" on their network as censorship.

What makes you want to deny an objective reality?

Information spread on the news and social media probably made them that way. Ironically.