[ALittleLight]

He says that everyone is nice but Sam Altman, who, though always nice to the author, was mean to friends of the author in ways that are not described.

[intended]

Mean != manipulative / driving wedges.

That said, it feels awkward to even point out these gradations, without knowing the people in question.

I just realized that this is the kind of conversation that preceded forum witch hunts. Or tribe formation :/

[FartyMcFarter]

You missed perhaps the most important part, where Irving says that Altman lied to him on various occasions.