I don't think so, considering that the 1st comment thread on Reddit is a series of "that's what she said" jokes.
Edit: All the same, I'll try giving /r/programming a chance. As a whole, Reddit looks less civil than HN, but maybe I haven't been fair. People tend to criticize subjects that they don't know about or have never experienced 1st hand, and I'm guilty of that here.
I don't think so, considering that the 1st comment thread on Reddit is a series of "that's what she said" jokes.
Well, the thing is that people on reddit know better than to take themselves too seriously, and as a result you get plenty of amusing things mixed in to the comments.
For HN, on the other hand, commenting is Serious Business(TM), not to be wasted on such frivolities.
Some people like the HN approach. Personally I prefer to have a little fun every now and again.
On a programming topic, on HN, maybe 20% of the comments are interesting, or at least informative. On a programming topic, on Reddit, maybe 2% of the comments are interesting or informative, but there are 10 times as many comments, the interesting ones are voted to near the top (not necessarily right up there), and some of the interesting Reddit comments don't have an analogue on HN.
/agree SNR on reddit mebbe 5%, slashdot %1 here, I don't know 50%? I see some less than useful posts (like this one), but almost no outright trolling/patently wrong posts.
HN makes my daily read list, even if it is a quick glance. Great community.
Edit: All the same, I'll try giving /r/programming a chance. As a whole, Reddit looks less civil than HN, but maybe I haven't been fair. People tend to criticize subjects that they don't know about or have never experienced 1st hand, and I'm guilty of that here.