> First, not rules but guidelines. Second, you have been responding with passive-aggressive insults and retorts which also makes for unpleasant conversation. Y

> First, not rules but guidelines. Second, you have been responding with passive-aggressive insults and retorts which also makes for unpleasant conversation. You continue nitpicking! You would do better if you followed those "guidelines". Indeed this conversation has been unpleasant, but it's all on you. You have been condescending and insulting. I suggest you focus your energies on better enterprises next time, maybe engage with the article itself instead of picking on others. It will do you good. > The "prodding" is because I don't think your argument has any merit yet, but perhaps this could change if you provided some underlying reason? Surely you can see there's nothing to gain by explaining myself to someone who thinks "my argument doesn't have any merit" (and who doesn't think that's insulting) and who keeps misrepresenting everything I say? I just said something, shared by many others, and you felt triggered by the opinion: that's fine, I don't want to convince you of anything, nor do I feel like being "educated" by you. > Maybe I am too accustomed with the idea of "keeping my identity small" and "strong opinions, loosely held", that it's natural to me to differentiate an "attack" on the argument vs the person? Well, you haven't done a good job at it, then! What do you hope to gain, at this point? Are you waiting for me to "see reason"? That's not going to happen. Surely you see sooner or later dang will intervene here and tell us to shut it down? re: insulting, passive-aggressive behavior: I re-read our exchange from the start. I was polite, even agreed with you sometimes ("I'm nodding in agreement, why do you think I think otherwise") while your tone kept getting more condescending with each reply, failing to accept my agreements and prodding in what I guess you felt was an "educational" tone. Honestly, hand on your heart, do you believe your responses were made in the best possible tone and were the best way to conduct an honest conversation? Do you believe the default position of "this argument has no merit, but maybe if this person explains his team's and company's motivations to my satisfaction I might change my mind" is a mindset that is conducive to amicable conversation? I think, if you're honest, you should admit maybe a tiny bit of misbehavior here. I also read replies you've made in other articles and you seem more reasonable. I'll chalk it up to you not being able to let go at this point, and so you must bite and nitpick at everything I say. I really think you should let it go, make your peace with not being able to convince me of your point of view, and move on to other enterprises.