>>lordna+(OP)
I admit that when I joined Hacker News, I viewed it to some extent as an anthropology experiment, since discussions I encountered reflected some of the issues cited in the article, specifically that some discussions seemed to reflect a myopia that suggested participants were likely rarely exposed to people outside their bubble, and often a lack of respect for views that were outside that paradigm. However, I've seen discussions become more tempered, and a great influence from Dan and Scott as moderators (thank you!). At this point, I do read and contribute to Hacker News in lieu of most other social media, though sometimes I still read comments that feel arrogant or dismissive of outside views, especially when topics that are cultural enter the picture. My general approach is to just ignore them and move on to more productive discussions, and sometimes to feel like it might be time for a break for me, though I'm not sure there are any online communities I think do a much better job of having civil discourse.