Sure: most divisive and inflammatory topics are far more important than the stories that get discussed on HN. That's actually a reason why we have to limit them. If we didn't, they would take over the site completely, because of their importance. Then HN would become just another political comment section.
The thing to remember is that HN is not trying to be all kinds of website, just one very specific kind: a place for intellectual curiosity. Curiosity is not compatible with flamewars and battles about high-stakes things. Indeed it is the first emotion to disappear when those get going.
If you want to help HN be a good HN, please use it in the spirit of curiosity. If you don't want to do that, please find a more suitable website—there are many out there.
The thing to remember is that HN is not trying to be all kinds of website, just one very specific kind: a place for intellectual curiosity. Curiosity is not compatible with flamewars and battles about high-stakes things. Indeed it is the first emotion to disappear when those get going.
If you want to help HN be a good HN, please use it in the spirit of curiosity. If you don't want to do that, please find a more suitable website—there are many out there.
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html