I have an unfounded theory that SOPA has acted as a tipping point in the trickling in of redditors looking for answers. SOPA is a big deal for the Internet and its communities but I find the discussions on those threads particularly shallow (moreso I think than most political-leaning threads here). Obviously the discussion in the mentioned thread above was far more shallow and outright mean, but I think those are the new extremes in this new environment.
I bring this up because I also have a theory on how to handle it. Temporarily restrict the number of political and hot-topic stories in HN through coordinated flagging. I realize this may be controversial (even borderline xenophobic), but I think it would dissuade those looking for a home here who don't want to adhere to the guidelines. If the hot-ness of the material on the front page decreased for a while, I think it would sufficiently bore those looking for spicy discussions until this SOPA topic fades.
I bring this up because I also have a theory on how to handle it. Temporarily restrict the number of political and hot-topic stories in HN through coordinated flagging. I realize this may be controversial (even borderline xenophobic), but I think it would dissuade those looking for a home here who don't want to adhere to the guidelines. If the hot-ness of the material on the front page decreased for a while, I think it would sufficiently bore those looking for spicy discussions until this SOPA topic fades.
[Disclaimer: I regularly comment on SOPA threads]