I agree with flagging most political topics, and most such horrible happenings in the world as TFA. This place is supposed to foster curious, intellectual discussion, and the umpteenth report of what amounts to be the same horrible thing doesn't do that, at all. There is a disgusting glut of horribleness constantly happening in the world, and we don't need to discuss the particulars of most of it.
Something I think that has a chance to spark constructive discussion is when there are significant changes in such a thing, be that change positive or negative. And those discussions usually stay on the HN pages too, because while I'm sure many are flagging them, many are voting for them as well. As the HN guidelines put it: "Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, or celebrities, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon." "If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic."
Something I think that has a chance to spark constructive discussion is when there are significant changes in such a thing, be that change positive or negative. And those discussions usually stay on the HN pages too, because while I'm sure many are flagging them, many are voting for them as well. As the HN guidelines put it: "Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, or celebrities, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon." "If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic."