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Comment by linza | Hacker News Reader

> take a step back away from this topic, rather than try to comment on a problem you don't understand.

I guess i understand the sentiment, but we shouldn't shame people away from discourse. Everyone should be allowed to be wrong, if comments are made in good faith.

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I don't think it's shaming to suggest people take a beat and to offer relevant items for consideration. I thought the comment was well constructed and nonaccusatory.

It wasn't doing that. It was saying to not comment, and offer some stereotypes of the US as a little insinuation as to exactly who shouldn't be allowed to comment.

Those aren't so much stereotypes about the US as much as observations about the ways UK regulations might be different from people's expectations or experiences. I don't think they're saying "shut up Americans" as much as, "if you don't understand why this is a big deal for people in the UK, here is a list of things that might seem normal to you that seem bizarre to me." For what it's worth, I'm from the US, I took no offense.

I'm from the UK, but I just dislike that sort of thing. People should be able to speak without others pre-emptively discouraging them.

I just don't see the problem with politely asking people who've self identified as not understanding the issue from sounding off on it before they've given it due consideration. They're still free to do so, but frankly I don't think it would add to the conversation.

This isn't something to preach on a thread, though. It's how people should treat every discussion. Otherwise why aren't you pasting the same message into every comment thread on the site?

I don't understand the topic, I wouldn't comment anyway because I usually don't when I'm not interested or know too much about a topic. But I also didn't get offended by his suggestion because it left room for me to ask questions. Just because HN calls my question a comment is what's making you confused I guess.

I'm not offended, if I'm the person you thought was offended.

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