In case you do make it back here, I now realize who I'm talking to and how thin of ice I'm likely treading on. This changes my opinion in no way, instead I'll make one last statement on this particular matter: I assert that the level of discourse on political related matters on HN has taken a significant turn for the worse, most likely corresponding to the most recent election. While this probably shouldn't be surprising, HN's are people after all, where I think (not guarantee, but think) criticism is valid is that there is widespread abuse of the guidelines noted above, widespread abuse of the truth, and a double standard of claims of "appropriate behavior".
I would imagine your instinctual reaction is to disagree, I'm sure mine would be as well, but then ask yourself this: is it possible I have a point? We know this phenomenon is happening on other forums, are HN'ers really all that special, are we immune to the shortcomings the rest of humanity suffers from?
This is too complicated. It's against HN's guidelines to take personal swipes, such as insinuating things about their brain. That's all. Please don't do it again.
It's against the rules regardless of your politics or theirs.
Fair enough, I would simply ask that the rules are enforced in an unbiased manner, and if I report someone for an objectively similar violation of the rules, that evaluation of that is unbiased.
It's not lost on me that I am involved in these types of discussions more than average, but it seems that this will naturally occur to anyone who is in a substantial minority - after all, would we expect people to be highly motivated to reply to a comment with which they agree?
I don't involve myself in these discussions entirely because I enjoy it, I also do it because it's important. Disagreement and debate is important to a healthy democracy, and there is a decreasing amount of genuine honest debate in the world.
Also not that as usual, someone coincidentally came across my posts on an at least 2 day old thread and delivered my obligatory downvotes. No problem though I suppose.
I would imagine your instinctual reaction is to disagree, I'm sure mine would be as well, but then ask yourself this: is it possible I have a point? We know this phenomenon is happening on other forums, are HN'ers really all that special, are we immune to the shortcomings the rest of humanity suffers from?