Discussing something is promoting it? If anything we don't like ever happens, we must not comment for fear of promoting it? When an idea we don't like or agree with is put forward, we should keep silent rather than providing a counter argument?
Although I would see why you might want to limit comments on this particular story, most of the criticism has been ad hominem attacks about which companies the authors have worked for in the past (or work for now).
It hasn't been a victory for rational discourse on either side.
Hacker News is a site where the users control what stories are discussed. By the nature of the site, discussing something is promoting it. I see nothing wrong with trying to limit stories from sources with clear agendas backed by a history of dubious claims. Especially when there are many other stories worth of attention that get ignored.
Although I would see why you might want to limit comments on this particular story, most of the criticism has been ad hominem attacks about which companies the authors have worked for in the past (or work for now).
It hasn't been a victory for rational discourse on either side.