In general I agree. But not in this case. In the “polite” approach what happens is that obviously bad assertions are made and one politely engages but the starting point is such that you are engaged in an attempt to just get to a reasonable place. It’s sort like how combatting a lie is much more effort than spreading one.

My comment above was not for the person who made. I don’t engage with such people. It was for the people who stumbled upon it. I want them to know that there are people who think the comment is ridiculously bad.

There's no "not in the case" on HN, though. People can figure out the quality of a comment themselves, perhaps helped along by a comment that disputes what the first comment says. But the idea you're doing everyone some service by trashing the place is misplaced, it's just not how things work.

I disagree.

You don’t have to agree, you just can’t comment like that on HN.

But I did comment like that becuase I don’t agree with what you said. I will continue to comment like I did where I deem appropriate. You are free to ban me or get someone to ban me.

Nobody is interested in banning you, people are simply asking you not to shit in the place they use so that they and you can continue using it.

Trying to present this shitting as some sort of principled martyrdom or, heaven help us, favour to the rest of us is silly, selfish and unconvincing. Just ease off on the shitting in the future, it's not like most everyone else has any trouble doing it.

Martyrdom? I’m not important enough or self centered enough to have any feelings of martyrdom with regard to this site. I was just letting you know that I don’t agree with you and I’m not going to stop. As such the only option is for me to be banned. Pointing out this fact does not qualify as martyrdom.

If you cannot make your point clear politely you also cannot force it into people. It just look terrible for everyone reading the conversation. I actually agree with the direction your argument but can't agree with the form. And also unfortunately if you position was the opposite, the moderation would be less severe, but it is what it is. This is an US American forum after all.