Well it is not unlikely they will read it as they are active on this post.

And the other part is simply just ethos, who the author is does change what kind of credibility you will give an argument.

> And the other part is simply just ethos, who the author is does change what kind of credibility you will give an argument.

Initially, maybe. It sounds a lot like the comment was arguing that people should do as much as the article's author before they are allowed to "pick it apart". That's lazy thinking to me, "that person has done a lot, don't you dare criticize their article". And that, mind you, before anyone had even pulled apart the point, it's some kind of pre-emptive argument to authority.

I think it is completely understandable and forgiveable that you don't know who Burntsushi is, or that he is quite active on HN [1], and I don't think your post warrents the downvotes it has received. This isn't the kind of thing we should expect HN users to know.

In this case, chances are quite good that the author of the article will read the parent comment (and the author has responded to other comments as well)

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=burntsushi

Thank you! I had seen afterwards that the author was active in the comments, but I notice the "thank you" comments sometimes, and it's rarely obvious that the author is active here. These comments have some weird signalling feel to it, as if the intended recipient isn't the person being thanked, but other people who are supposed to see that humble gratitude. People do strange things, or maybe I just imagine them to.

I don't mind the down votes, I have hidden their effect and all counters to make sure I don't get sad about down votes and don't let my ego get inflated by up votes. Had you not mentioned it, I wouldn't have known, but I'll try to not let it ruin my day ;)

I don't think the parent comment made any prescription on whether 'burntsushi's ideas can be criticized here.