> Hence I am using a throwaway account ..

You mean the account you use to criticize and judge almost everyone on the planet [0] [1] [2] [3]? Now that's very intelligent, adult, and open-minded isn't it? :)

[0] : "I've noticed that C and C++ have pretty fanatical and very narrow-minded fanbase" : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14877927

[1] : "Because they have no lives and posting emotional responses on the internet makes them feel important" : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14855644

[2] : "The author is ... demonstrating a grumpy-old-fart-like attitude" : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14752601

[3] : "This article is of USA origin, clearly. You guys are strange -- always be like ... " : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14653281

Yes. I am using a throwaway exactly because of this close scrutiny like yours. Examples: I've known racists who are amazing engineers. The fact that they were awful racists didn't demean their engineering ability. That's why for some of my posts I prefer being anonymous. People like you would probably try and demean me because they disagree with me on something.

I am flawed like everybody else and I'll be the first to admit my own prejudices -- even if I am not ready to overcome them at the moment (which is a sad reality for most of us).

But the amount of nitpick and prejudice I am observing periodically on HN is alarming and I feel the need to call it out here and there.

You can take it as an insult or you can try and extract something from the criticism that can enrich you. It's your choice.

Also please note that I am not defending Apple per se. But I expect better criticisms on HN compared to what is rampant right here in this thread.

I was not trying to demean you, but the hypocrisy needed to be pointed out. It's new to me that someone maintains another account for his wildly generalized critical posts and then uses that to preach the exact opposite to others.

One can easily get fed up and thus resort to a throwaway account. Hypocrisy is one way of looking at it. I'll not argue as to how you should be looking at it through my point of view.

If anything, I have numerous anecdotal evidence for my generalizations. But we all do, so that's not really a defensible position, I realize that. :)

My original objection is that many people in the thread, right here in HN, the place that should be where the modern intellectual elite hangs out, are no better than your random Google zealot who never misses the chance to piss on people for using Apple devices.

All of us should do better. I appreciate your criticism of my generalizations. While I think they are well-justified in the background of my life's experience, I am still not blind to the fact that they are prejudices as well.

What's wrong about "Everybody looks privacy-oriented when compared to Google..."?

It's so incredibly non-specific that it's impossible to argue with.

If you want to make a point about Google and privacy then make a specific one that people can debate.

It's not about Google, but about Apple being privacy-oriented. The argument is that people wouldn't call Apple privacy-oriented if it weren't for its competitors like Google being even worse in that regard.

How is your reply diminishing Apple's stance on privacy?

Yes, people do compare and choose based on their priorities (and wallets). That's how competition works, isn't it?

So again, I fail to see how your comment changes anything. Of course people compare products.

> How is your reply diminishing Apple's stance on privacy?

It isn't, it is diminishing some people's view on Apple's stance on privacy.

"Look, none of us knows for sure. But talking like that disqualifies you from any intelligent and adult discussion in my eyes."

Yeesh.

Yes. Insulting people on the basis of using Apple products should disqualify them from any discussion beyond drunk jokes on a table in the suburbs.

(Disclaimer #38274932: I am not defending Apple per se. I find them pretty shady in a number of aspects as well as Google. But what is happening in this thread is just shameful.)