I don’t think it would scatter the community — I almost never read some topics here because I am uninterested in them, or because the community on average is not too well versed in the specific topic so it is mostly just guesses/opinions.
The most valuable thing about HN is the thoroughly educated comments, where under a related post the very creator of that program/language, etc might chime in to the discussion.
Comments
HN is a community. One community. Mostly centered around discussing topics arising on the front page.
Add tags/filtering and you scatter the community in sub communities and that’s precisely what HN wants to avoid.
I don’t think it would scatter the community — I almost never read some topics here because I am uninterested in them, or because the community on average is not too well versed in the specific topic so it is mostly just guesses/opinions.
The most valuable thing about HN is the thoroughly educated comments, where under a related post the very creator of that program/language, etc might chime in to the discussion.