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Bringing in a dossier on someone as extra ammunition in an argument? Over the line and not cool.

I disagree and I wouldn't call it a dossier. If someone takes a stance on a certain issue it is helpful to know why.

Edit: ...and I could have just the same pointed out to past comments on HN.

I think even bringing in a list of past HN comments would be over the line, though perhaps not as creepy. HN threads are supposed to be conversations, not courtrooms.

These were simply citations; adding context to someone's statement. I find it hard to understand that the information we all post freely online is creepy when we are confronted on it. Shouldn't we just stand by what we say?

Assembling a collection of someone's past statements to make them look bad is not "simply citations", it's a courtroom or political tactic, too aggressive for good conversation—i.e. for HN discussion—and because it breaches a boundary, yes, rather creepy.

You're not supposed to go around "confronting" people here. Let them add context to their own statements if they want to. Personal details or history shouldn't be brought in as ammunition.

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