It is true, just incomplete. Preaching to the converted doesn't require this evidence and argument, but _in general_ you need that capability. If you want popularity you have to customize your pitch to the audience.
I posit this is okay, as I wouldn’t trust your citation selection anyway!
Most of the internet makes a lot more sense if you stop thinking of it as a place to argue, and start thinking of it as a place to exchange ideas.
You give me an idea, and I’ll mull it over myself, research it myself, and confirm/adopt it or refute it myself.
None of this requires an argument or evidence, just the idea, and that’s how most people use the Internet.
> explaining things is often a great way to lose credibility
> I wouldn’t trust your citation selection anyway!
One popular earth reason is people like teaching and learning. We call it knowledge. I'm sure you're fun at parties.
If your systems can’t prevent you from falling for QAnon, flat eartherism, or the time cube, you are exploitable and are likely already actively exploited.
Believing what you read in an HN comment is a terrible idea.