I'm sure the poster was addressing "Focus on the facts. Not the messenger."

As was listed, there are plenty of good reasons to learn about the messenger, just like how looking up my comment history will show my propensity for calling this argument out. You know my ulterior motives and where I'm coming from.

Well one things certain: I'll never use Private Internet Access after this ridiculous comment from you[0] not even three months ago.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17261149 -- need to have "showdead" enabled in profile

I stand by that statement.

Those types of comments (yours and the general back-and-forth with ProtonMail) make the VPN industry look like it's full of sharks. It's hurting all of you. It makes you look unprofessional. Before seeing this I had a favourable impression of PIA, but not anymore.

EDIT: I'm sure the competition is intense and I'm not sure I would be able to rise above it myself but I think you need to be aware of what it looks like.

It may be full of sharks. Specifically, though, my issues are with the two companies who pretend they are privacy companies and aren’t.

They bring shame to our industry, and further, shame to our cause.

I will stand up against them everyday regardless of what kind of repercussions come to me. That’s what it means to protect people’s privacy.

Cheers!

And I stand by mine that I'll never use or recommend Private Internet Access.