[mikebenfield]

I don't have infinite time available. I can't read every article posted on HackerNews and carefully consider all its points. Knowing this author's affiliation is a big clue to me that this might not be a key source I want to rely on for this topic. Obviously this doesn't actually refute the author's points, but I don't care. This is enough information for me to decide to spend my time elsewhere.

[haberman]

I understand the need to have heuristics like this, but the hazard is that it allows bad behavior to go unchecked. If people with "good" affiliations circle the wagons, ignoring or downplaying the issue, how will bad behavior ever get corrected?

[mcrad]

Tribalism is part of the cause for the dysfunction described in the article. Highly recommended.