This subthread detached from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10102113 and marked off-topic, since it seems to be the root of the flamewar.

We've noticed over and over how generic tangents are the gateway to flamewars. Tangents about something specific ("off-topic, but I once worked with that group...") are often interesting, but generic tangents dilute discussion and not infrequently eventuate in Hitler.