You are absolutely right, every time I open the comments thread now, I'm psychologically prepared to read the sarcasm in front of the line. This became HN-standard now. Do people actually feel different and original by doing this?. Anyway, I wouldn't complain if I didn't like HN, I find great stuff here, but this upvoted sarcasm issue is very predictable.

It's a real shame, but what I think is really lame is they get upvoted so much that the worthwhile, interesting, and constructive comments get relegated to second and third position.

I've taken to deliberately going to the second and third comments in a thread before I decide to continue reading or not. I'd read much less if I didn't.

Exactly what I am thinking. I don't see there is anything offensive in Gruber's blog.