Not true. Both are legitimate tactics with lots of rhetorical power. I’m glad that the OP used such language and HN is better for it.

Sometimes idiots need to be told their idiots, and gatekeepers need to know that they are not welcome in our community.

One generally doesn't have to lean into phrases like "legitimate tactics" and "rhetorical power" when they've got the moral, ethical, or intellectual high ground. Telling people they're idiots is about the most counter-productive single strategy for addressing human stupidity ever conceived. 1. they won't believe you 2. they'll ignore everything else you have to say because you're a dick. So the real question is, who hurt you?

@dang Many individuals in this thread seem to require a gentle reminder regarding the expected etiquette on HN. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Dang is a bad admin and it would be best if HN were ran by someone else. Trying to call for daddy to do your work for you is pathetic to witness. You don’t need to play tattle-tale.

HNs guidelines are in sore need of being rewritten.