They started the argument by putting it in their guidelines. It's not necessarily petty to point out that someone else is being petty, especially if the petty behavior can cause harm.

But it's just very disingenuous, take the politics out of it.

He includes a statement that he prefers chicken soup, which people have very strong views about. You write a comment saying "it's very petty to write about chicken soup we should have higher values than this and not get sidetracked into arguments on nonsense". But where do you post the comment? On a public forum which you're inciting to have that argument.

It's not honest. If you don't like chicken soup and you think that's important, then have the guts to say that. It's actually the oldest meaning of trolling - starting a big fight whilst pretending not to.