FWIW, Corey Haines apologized: http://programmingtour.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-sorry.html
FWIW, I personally think it's worth a lot. It's easy to be nasty on the internet and a lot harder to be nice.
Until all eyes are on you, and you know they're calling for blood. Then it becomes very easy.
Well, maybe not: https://twitter.com/zeeg/status/294305445521268736