There is another aspect that is worth considering: when someone is doing something particularly "stupid", this "stupidity" often isn't seen by the actor. Their

There is another aspect that is worth considering: when someone is doing something particularly "stupid", this "stupidity" often isn't seen by the actor. Their self analysis can sometimes correct itself over time, but the usual biases can interfere. The point is it is far too easy to fall into really bad habits while blind to just how bad everyone else sees those habits. While I'm speaking about a somewhat more general pattern of behavior, a very closely related phenomena is the "normalization of deviance"[1]. Part of the problem is that without an outside assessment, the actor isn't really working with accurate information. Criticism can be a way of giving that data. Quality "constructive criticism" is great, but the message is sometimes ignored or avoided. In those cases, a harsher criticism - and possibly a bit insulting - is necessary to convey both the severity of the situation and to get the recipients attention. This is where some of what you cal "'get off my lawn' yelling" is about. Sometimes we've seen these mistakes before, and we've tried being patient and nice; when that didn't work, the occasional "get off my lawn" may be appropriate. As others have said, this how a community self-corrects; when someone is being "stupid", they need to know that. They certainly aren't going to change without this necessary information. Now I'll certainly agree that there is a very fine line here, and as long as fallible humans are involved mistakes will be made. I've certainly made mistakes in this area in the past. However, avoiding problems is not the answer, as unfixed small problems tend to become larger problems in the future. [1] http://www.rapp.org/archives/2015/12/normalization-of-deviance/ http://www.rapp.org/archives/2015/12/normalization-of-devian...