Maybe that's one reason why you have such great quality time here.
I think the problem about social medias is that people have flaws, and social medias puts a great focus on individual people, exposing their good side as well as flawed side. But, most people are not well-trained to handle such level of influence (including being influenced as well as to influence the others), and don't clearly know the power/stress such influence might hold (one misstep, the whole thing can crash to hell).
Also, people change. One day you believe one thing, then the next day you believe something completely different. But if your follower follows you exactly because you are advocating one belief, wouldn't that in turn encourages you to lock yourself out from all other beliefs (and risk become more extreme in the process)?
Hacker News puts the material itself in the focus of discussion, rather than who posted it. Which in my opinion, is better, at least most the time.