You shouldn't use HN as a place to gain knowledge itself; Google is much more useful for that. HN is best seen as a place to expand one's awareness of knowledge.
For example, people here have provided their thoughts on "security through obscurity" -- a clear controversy exists! Your next task would be to Google the phrase, and read the Wikipedia article[1] that comes up. Then, if you still have questions, check out the references the Wikipedia article cites[2][3][4][5], or perhaps visit other results from your Google search[6][7][8].
In other words, Internet social media sites are terrible places to learn -- use the greater web to do actual learning. Use social media sites like HN and Reddit to expand your awareness of ideas.
For example, people here have provided their thoughts on "security through obscurity" -- a clear controversy exists! Your next task would be to Google the phrase, and read the Wikipedia article[1] that comes up. Then, if you still have questions, check out the references the Wikipedia article cites[2][3][4][5], or perhaps visit other results from your Google search[6][7][8].
In other words, Internet social media sites are terrible places to learn -- use the greater web to do actual learning. Use social media sites like HN and Reddit to expand your awareness of ideas.