Ok, I'm not sure whether you're reading this or not, but check out this thread:

https://news.ycombinator.com/context?id=40627548

Is that an interaction that is worthy of a ban?

I feel that what often happens is that I make a non-flame-war comment, and then someone comes in and uses passive but extremely aggressive language against me, and then I am forced to either retreat or to hold my own.

I look like the bad guy, but the other guy is actually the unreasonable one.

You are a world-class moderator so I have no problem with your judgment!