The full story is over on Gawker, the Atlantic article is just a summary that assumes you already know who this dude is.
http://gawker.com/5950981/unmasking-reddits-violentacrez-the...
http://gawker.com/5950981/unmasking-reddits-violentacrez-the...
And apparently there is a new moderation mode that removes/prevents articles from being on the front page, because that just happened too.
This article was briefly on the front page. I am one of probably many who flagged it down into oblivion, where it belongs.
I guess you don't build online communities.
I read the article. It wasn't about communities; it was salacious gossip about an individual. If you really want to read about that, go stand in line at a supermarket and pick up one of their tabloids.
If you want to talk on HN about the problems and responsibilities of anonymity in online communities, then write something worth reading.
(I wouldn't mind if they weren't on HN, either.)
Their "economics of free" series of articles is the single most useful online resource for dragging creative people into 21st century. You wouldn't believe how many musicians I know that spend their time worrying about selling CDs and getting a record deal... in 2012.
I consider them a valuable information source regarding the marketing and monetarization of zero marginal cost content.
Looks like mostly political stuff, or stuff filling the void left behind by Valleywag.
I don't really care much one way or the other though.