[throw10920]

As a complement to your points - it's worth pointing out that "blunt" != "intentionally rude" / "personal/character attacks".

I've seen lots of people on HN who are straightforward, but don't verbally abuse others when correcting them (although they might get a bit terse) - complaining about them is very different than complaining about those who actually start attacking you personally when you disagree with them.

(I, personally, try to be a polite form of the former, but as most people who have extensively commented on the internet can tell you, it's a slippery slope)

[sol_invictus]

Agreed - out of the blunt comments, maybe 5% are truly abrasive. I don't think it is nearly as big of a problem as the author is making it to be.