Maybe to avoid attracting any extra attention to this user? Also, as someone who’s read HN for a few years, it only took me 2 guesses to find an account that the above comment describes (and not necessarily the same person).

It was a classy move by jsnell, too. Thank you.

(I don’t know who the comment is talking about, which is how it should be. There’s no need to blow someone’s cover in a highly visible way. Even if they were satan, they’d still be welcome on HN as long as they’re writing substantive, interesting comments that follow the guidelines.)

Such quality comments would track with most thorough Satan representations.

They obviously don't want it to be known, seeing as they've got alts to post under and avoid going into too much detail. Being able to go out and do your own research is different than posting the information open for everyone to see at a glance.

I would say it's obvious why one might respect that wish (do unto others...), but I'm also aware that my and my culture's sense of privacy goes further than many others'.