I think this is in part due to the lack of LW-style up and downvotes.
This is likely a reason for the comment quality, yes. However, I submit that another (possibly more important) reason is that SSC contains a great deal of politics (relative to LW), which naturally causes mind-killing, even amongst the most rational of human participants. See here for a more elaborate discussion of this phenomenon.
This is likely a reason for the comment quality, yes. However, I submit that another (possibly more important) reason is that SSC contains a great deal of politics (relative to LW), which naturally causes mind-killing, even amongst the most rational of human participants. See here for a more elaborate discussion of this phenomenon.