Except that this is a discussion on how news and topics are received at HN. So making a projection based on available data is actually quite reasonable and if there is a sample bias, it is a valid one. Because it doesn't matter if there are nine hundred billion hardcore VHDL folk around here. The most popular discussions tend to be tech related to web technologies and the associated tools. If the consistently popular and top discussions on HN aren't adequate to make a generalization of the general makeup of the active HN users, then I don't know what is.

And, I thought it was pretty clear with the "probably something like" and "99%" that it was a number being pulled out of my arse for the sake of discussion.

That being said, actual data on the skillsets and interests of the more active members would be a very interesting bit of data. But it is also really hard to measure as lurkers don't contribute to discussion but will gladly vote in a poll.

You're not making a projection based on data, you're generalizing from things you personally happened to notice, which is practically the definition of sample bias.

It's extremely common to do this (I'm not picking on you personally!), but such generalizations have no objective value and lead to repetitive, low-quality discussion, which is why I think we're going to add a guideline asking people not to do it.

Again, the discussion was about why topics like C/C++ are dismissed/disliked around here and I presented an argument based upon observations in threads. That is actually a valid approach.

And if your issue is actually that I very clearly pulled a number out of my arse and went out of my way to make it clear that I had: Are you also going to make it mandatory for everyone to preface every non-cited statement with "in my opinion"?

Look, I get that this is your bread and butter and that it is important for HN to be presented as being THE place for tech and blah blah blah and being pigeonholed into "a site for web and app developers who like silicon valley" isn't necessarily what you want, but trying to pretend that a rule to not "generalize" as a way to not have people speculate and discuss why some topics just aren't particularly welcome here isn't the way to go. Just make it a rule, you aren't fooling anyone.

Also, if you REALLY wanted to improve discussions here: Make a rule against pseudo-technical naval gazing (is there a term for that? "Naval gazing" is more associated with philosophy and potheads) as far too many threads devolve into "We can't help but be introverted because our minds are designed that way and I need to be isolated to code because I need to optimize everything".