Okay, I think I see how this worked out. Terms like "bigoted rant" and "fucking childishness" always give me the distinct impression the poster isn't intereste

Okay, I think I see how this worked out. Terms like "bigoted rant" and "fucking childishness" always give me the distinct impression the poster isn't interested in reasonable discussion -- particularly on HN, given the usual monocles-and-earl-grey manner of conversations here. In my experience, that sort of language only irritates whoever may disagree, and so lowers the level of debate, while achieving nothing of value. As such, angry words on the internet always feel immature to me, so the phrase "fucking childish" struck me as amusingly ironic. Your challenge to Mr Atwood also came across as facetious; I find it very unlikely that a busy man like him has the time for a code-off, but I could see someone claiming his failure to accept a challenge as a victory by default; and even if he did take you up on it, it would prove very little. As such, your first post read to me as little more than a troll itself, so I felt I was only being flippant in kind. To be honest, I would have downmodded your first post and left it at that, had that button appeared to me yet. Instead, in hindsight, I guess I thought I was (from my perspective) "feeding the trolls"; itself far from the best way to improve the level of dialog, I freely admit. It wouldn't help that I very likely came to this thread spoiling for a fight with those defending PHP; it's been a conduit for many headaches since I finished my degree & got a job. Peace.