is it? from where I stand, hn seems to be one of the exceptionally few remaining places where the mods don't take sides so the obnoxious minority doesn't get to win arguments by silencing everyone else like they do everywhere else.

Mods don't take sides on issues you pay attention to, maybe. They definitely take sides.

Watch: I'll say "free Palestine", and this comment will be deadened soon.

This site literally has a user powered ranking system so dissenting opinions get downvoted. It is an echo chamber.