[jeremy_arnold]

There's a fundamental asymmetry here: many commenters vs. one of me. It's one big reason why most writers don't engage in comments at all. The time and energy burden is enormous.

As happens though, I think standing behind one's work is important, and that the investment is worthwhile on the net. So I engage more than most do, and I quite literally pay people when they help me see flaws in my work (or even just when they raise a really helpful point). This is good for all. But it's only sustainable when those on the other side engage in good faith. I told someone (who was already being super snarky) that I was centralizing their comments as they'd made the same one in two places. They responded with something deeply uncharitable. So I blocked them in one place but still addressed their concerns here (while linking readers from SS to here so they could follow). If that's not enough for you, lol ok.

As for butthurt, look, I've been on HN for a day. I don't know anything about the culture here. I don't even know what flags you're talking about or how to find them. No mods have gotten in touch with me about anything. If they did, I'd happily hear them out. But I'm never a dick to anyone who isn't a dick first, and even then I still try to engage in good faith if there's a real concern within their dump.