I don't know how you could think that it's ok to pull a move like that on HN, but it's not ok. Specifically, checking up on and bringing in someone's personal circumstances, which they didn't choose to mention, in order to use them as ammunition an argument is not ok on HN. Please don't do that.
I'm glad that you didn't publish the details, which would have been even worse, but that also means that what you wrote there is just an insinuation.
Don't you think we ought to be vigilant of these biases when discussing the very matter of whether or not these biases are subverting the discussion?
The thing is, it's not relevant to the discussion, either yours or anyone elses, because we're discussing issues, not investigating people or putting them on trial.
A point is a point, no matter who made it. It's up to you if you wish of course, to refute it, but by using argumentative devices, evidence, studies, or explaining how you arrived at your point of view only. Not via character assassination.
As an aside, I feel these accusations merely make some people shut up on here. I've actually loved this thread in general mostly because people have come out of the woodwork and explained why they think this or that, and there have been some really inquisitive questions.
I'm not afraid to say exactly what I think when it needs said, and I've said what I truly think here.