[dntbnmpls]

It wasn't mean spirited and it was justified. If people are using link shorteners to hide the fact that their link is a referral, then it invites everyone to sneak referral links in their comments here. Do you really want that?

He removed that link from his comment and he apologized because it was the right thing to do. Also, virtue signaling to encourage bad behavior isn't right, no matter how good or superior you think it makes you feel. Especially considering you weren't smart enough to realize that I wasn't criticizing the referrals in his article ( valid ), I was criticizing the shortened link in his comment which was a referral.

[bogomipz]

Yeah, no. In civil discourse you give people the benefit of the doubt that they weren't doing something for nefarious purposes but that they maybe made an honest mistake. In this case it was simply a copy paste error which they pointed out. They apologized because they were being civil and polite not out of some admission of guilt. Somehow you were the one that missed all of this. I think you can see what others thought of your tone as well. Both of your comments here come across as very angry.

[dntbnmpls]

> In this case it was simply a copy paste error which they pointed out.

Right and life went on before you decided to play "hero".

> They apologized because they were being civil and polite not out of some admission of guilt.

But you told him not to apologize. So that means you told him not to be civil? Also, it's not polite to speak for others as it isn't part of civil discourse.

> I think you can see what others thought of your tone as well.

Others? Just you. And it's rather childish to "appeal to downvotes".

> Both of your comments here come across as very angry.

"Yeah, no."

Listen, the only one causing drama here is you. I made one innocuous and helpful comment. The guy responded and everything was settled. The conversation had nothing to do with you and yet here you are.