This is one reason I feel an odd disconnect (anonymity?) with HN that isn’t felt on other social platforms I’ve been a part of. Those often have avatars or some other visual form of recognition that helps put a “face” to a name.
I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, but I definitely think it’s intentional.
That’s very true. These days, when I come across especially thoughtful comments, I’ll sometimes click through to the user’s profile afterward. I think it’s better to judge a comment on its own merits than to let implicit bias creep in based on things like “CEO,” fame, a high-karma account, and so on.