No, it does not. The (YCwhatever) doesn't even get slapped on all stories about YC companies. There is a rather large difference between the ones it goes on and

No, it does not. The (YCwhatever) doesn't even get slapped on all stories about YC companies. There is a rather large difference between the ones it goes on and an attempt to contact the company through HN, and I don't see any evidence that the sole differentiator is positivity. But even if it were, not including it in the title of negative articles on HN would hardly be the same thing as removing any mentions of their association with YC.