I'm not familiar with this whole TechCrunch debacle, other than reading about that guy being spit on.

By "grown-up", I mean "thinking before posting, and posting in a way that indicates that one has a generally 'mature' mental-model". This isn't something that can be measured objectively, more of an attribute that emerges from the sum of a users postings - and posters on HN have generally passed the "act-like-an-adult" test so far.

You really should re-read the top level of this post. It's directed squarely at you.

I just learned the very hard way to never ever comment on HN after drinking.

Seems like HN should ask a GMail Goggles-like "Are you drunk?" question before you are allowed to post comments!