I personally think it's the argument that should be refuted, not the person making the argument.

I scroll right past any green accounts for that reason. What are you protecting by making a throwaway? Your magical internet points?

> What are you protecting by making a throwaway?

Themselves. People will attack others on the internet for having an unpopular opinion that differs from their own. If your username is attached to your real name, then sometimes it's safer to post risky comments on an alternate account, instead of your real account. This is similar to when you have a public account and private account.

Also you can't edit/delete comments after a couple hours, and you can't delete them after someone replies to you.

One ought to argue sub specie aeternitatis.

There is a beautiful irony of an anonymous account complaining about ad-hominem arguments.

Please see my response to piffy.

Other users downvoted and flagged your comment until it died. Now you can only see if it you have dead comments visible.

Ah, yes, I see that now. That's a shame - quite annoying really.

I don't get it. I don't really see what it is I wrote that warranted getting "flagged". I just said I wasn't keen on maintaining an account and, with that, a HN reputation.

I'm assuming it's against the rules to copy/paste my comment again in response to someone else so I'll just leave it, but that kills the want to participate.

Ironically, I'd bet that had it been a Facebook algorithm moderating the content (instead of just anybody having the power to censure/flag) my comment would still stand - and in this case, that'd be more fair to "free speech".

We are quick to plaster a company as "evil" and yet mob rule worries me more.

Ad-nominem!

I think in one comment you've discovered the reason everyone is fed up with social media.