While I gently agree with some of what you say it's probably important to note that I say in my profile that I struggle with tone and that I welcome email or downvotes to guide me to do better. And I sometimes talk about the increased hostility on HN.

So I invited this tone policing. (And of course I continue to do so)

> I believe your comment was far less aggressive than it's parent,

I'll be honest: I thought so too. It's interesting to me that other people read the posts so differently.

Still, the change I made stopped downvotes so tone matters.