title: Why can't you create an instance of a generic type using "new" operator?
body: <p>I found a lot of posts about <em>how</em> to overcome this limitation, but none about why this limitation exists (except <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/75175/create-instance-of-generic-type-in-java">this one</a>, which just mentions it has to do with type erasure).</p>
  
  <p>So why can't you create an instance of a generic type?</p>
  
  <p>To clarify, my question is not <em>how</em> it can be done. I know it's possible in C#, so why not in Java? I'm curious about why the Java folks did not implement a similar mechanism? Why force Java developers to use awkward workarounds that have the potential to result in a runtime error? Are there any potential hazards from such a mechanism? </p>