I haven't read the thread closely enough to be sure. Perhaps the MLK quote was particularly provocative in context but I didn't see anything outright uncivil about what the commenter said. Even if it was, though, it doesn't mean that you get to break HN's rules. I'm sure you can do much better than "fucking enraging".
Re:Time to Take a Stand
by scrollaway on Monday January 30, 2017 @06:08AM
(#13520118)
I get why swearing is not (and shouldn't be) the default tone on HN but is that really the issue here? I didn't insult hsod.
Meanwhile, I was equated with somebody tacitly approving of segregation. Because I'm telling someone else that it's more productive to understand why this is happening than look for retribution.
Civility is about more than tone. hsod's tone was fine but his comment certainly wasnt; my tone was harsh but I maintain it was appropriate for the kind of accusations I was replying to.
my tone was harsh but I maintain it was appropriate
It wasn't, by the site's guidelines and patient explanation by a moderator. These aren't laws of physics, just the norms of the venue. Would you 'maintain' it's appropriate to show up at a stranger's funeral waving a lighter and yelling 'Freebird'? Same thing.
How is the comment I was replying to at all civil?