Because the deleted ones are speculation, simple answers (yes/no kind of simple), throw up a Wikipedia link, or are just someone trying to be funny without answering the question. Plus a number of complaints and questions about the deleted comments that just make things worse.

The mods here are quite serious. This is a sub meant for solid, researched answers with a minimum of extraneous levity (why I subbed). Which is something that is in the rules and has been explained multiple times. I even saw a mod post a couple weeks ago that detailed the exact breakdown on a particular question. There is an extension (I think that's the term) that will hide all of the deleted answers, though, if you're interested.

I find it very annoying to see there are 20 comments or more and it's a bunch of people who ignore the rules.

Seriously, every popular question in the last week got a high quality answer - usually probably just a few hours after you checked the thread!

• the question on the portrayal of Moors got answers by /u/sunagainstgold and /u/yazman

• The thread about slavery in medieval England got an answer by /u/steelcan909

• The thread about translators back in the day got answers by /u/welfontheshelf and /u/sunagainstgold

• The thread about the American Nazi in Band of Brothers was answered via a link to a previous answer by /u/coinsinmyrocket

• The thread about the Tet Offensive was answered by /u/emperorpenguinstronk

• The thread about ye olde toenails was answered by /u/sunagainstgold, as was the thread about the options of medieval 13 year olds around getting married

• The fantastic /u/indyobserver answered the question about resistance to social security and the one about biphasic sleep

• Finally, /u/Hergrim answered the one about Mongol military tactics against European stone castles

I believe the policy was enacted as part of the 1215 signing of the Magna Carta.

This question pops up every so often; you'll be interested in this previous meta thread earlier this month as to why AH is so heavily moderated.

If you're interested in seeing already-answered stuff, I highly recommend the Sunday Digest, as linked in the Automod post above. Or just sort the subreddit by top of all time, top of the year, top of the month.

I don’t understand how this sub works at all 🤷‍♂️

lol, because only the historians are allowed to answer. This will be erased in 5,4,3,2,1...