> I really wasn't intending to start a general discussion, I genuinely just wanted to understand what one might hope to accomplish by making off-topic comments,

> I really wasn't intending to start a general discussion, I genuinely just wanted to understand what one might hope to accomplish by making off-topic comments, vs the prescribed course of action (flagging the article, contacting HN moderation via email, etc.) Some topics seem to cause some people psychological distress if they can’t explicitly repudiate the opposing worldview when encountered. [Honest disclosure] My bad, too - couldn’t not counterpoint my own gender critical beliefs in response to your OP’s implied position.