Did they take it back because of this post in hacker news or because they didn't like the higher salary request.

i'm not sure i will ever get to find out why they took it back. but i think it is very unlikely that it is this post in HN. someone would have to be checking HN very religiously.

You did provide a great amount of detail that could probably be used to identify you. Giving (real?) exact numbers doesn't help either. I would be more careful about disguising career questions in the future, even if this post wasn't the cause.

You should she them just to find out why :P Btw, now that you don't care, can you please tell which company this is.

This is a really frivolous reason to sue. I don't currently want to out the company; if in the future I do, it would probably not be in a random HN comment :).

Yeah that's probably for the best. They sound like cheapskates anyway. Next job offer, tell them you want 130k and let them offer 110k. Show them you're a team player by offering to meet in the middle on salary at 120k, but ask for more equity to make up for the 10k you're giving up!

While I was reading your 'ask,' I was thinking... too much info, someone at the company is going to see this. I hope this isn't the case and I am sure you will find another position.