The most important principle on HN, though, is to make thoughtful comments. Thoughtful in both senses: civil and substantial.

The test for substance is a lot like it is for links. Does your comment teach us anything? There are two ways to do that: by pointing out some consideration that hadn't previously been mentioned, and by giving more information about the topic, perhaps from personal experience. Whereas comments like "LOL!" or worse still, "That's retarded!" teach us nothing.

Eh. It's better to just let stuff like this slide. I get the impulse too, but it was a mistake for me to act on it. HN doesn't need a hall monitor.

Plus it makes boring reading.

This comment is at least a bit more than a LOL, since it's a reference to an internet meme. Also, why are you on a (presumably) throwaway? I mean, given that you're aware of that about commenting on HN, wouldn't you have a more long standing account? ;)

Perpetuation of a trope communicates group inclusion as domain-specific language. And it's unusual for the actor in this trope to personally benefit.

Always getting up to trouble, that rascal.