The black bar has usually been reserved for noteworthy deaths in the programming and technology fields, and it's always been at the discretion of the HN staff to decide which death deserves it and which doesn't - and most seem not to.
Discussions around people's lives, regardless of their field, are what create worthwhile tributes. The black bar is just vanity.
Discussions around people's lives, regardless of their field, are what create worthwhile tributes. The black bar is just vanity.