If only few people upvoted Eric Garnier stories it tells me a lot of people were simply uninterested in reading about or discussing it. We can't force a discussion. Me personally I come to HN to get away from everyday politics and sports.

from the https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html "Off-Topic: Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon. Videos of pratfalls or disasters, or cute animal pictures. If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic."

There are always exceptions. Ebola was discussed, ISIS, gay marriage, Berlin wall, taxes and education but overall it's still (and I'm glad) rare. https://news.ycombinator.com/best