I do think the way mute functions has the potential to hurt discourse. We should not create functionality that allows one person to prevent someone from participating with everyone else. I think this is an attempt at passive moderation, and it will probably hurt the site. Not in a major way to the core group of Hubski (of which I don't include myself), but in a meaningful way. I have a feeling that it will eventually be changed or removed, but maybe not for another few influxes.

But on the whole, I don't think it's going to prevent good discussion from taking place. If someone doesn't care for what you have to say, they're going to disregard you whether or not they have the site do it for them.

I think you're right about the familiarity -- because of the way hubski interacts with itself, someone who does not come here with the social pleasantries of meeting someone for the first time is prone to be muted. I doubt this will be a permanent state as growth continues, and I don't think it dooms us to becoming reddit.

Aside from mute, these things are less about Hubski and more about people. I don't think it's possible to create a website that forces good discussion by design. The key element to making it happen is the community, which is why the people here are generally on the defensive toward newcomers. But what's great about hubski is that they're dead set on trying to make it a reality. Even though you've had a relatively poor experience so far, the staff are willing to listen and consider the issues you bring up. I think you know it and that's why you're still here, as opposed to the majority of the reddit influx you came with.