HN is really good at programming language, IT, and computer science discussions. It really varies once you get outside that bubble.
Sometimes you get a topic on mathematics and a few mathematicians are on there answering questions directly and it's great. In my own field of energy markets and power grid operation, I've noticed the comments have a good mixture of informed folks and those that are way off base. I'm sure it's much worse on some topics and that I'm just as guilty at times :)
Hopefully there are enough experts in an area to drown out the noise.
Sometimes you get a topic on mathematics and a few mathematicians are on there answering questions directly and it's great. In my own field of energy markets and power grid operation, I've noticed the comments have a good mixture of informed folks and those that are way off base. I'm sure it's much worse on some topics and that I'm just as guilty at times :)
Hopefully there are enough experts in an area to drown out the noise.