"People like you are a cancer" is unquestionably a personal attack.
Also, "If you were on my team I'd manage you" pattern-matches (at least in my mind) with the internet forum trope of "thank god I never have to work with you", often used as a putdown after someone describes something they did at work that the replier doesn't like.
I certainly agree with you about cynicism and so on.
This may be one of those cases where your comment reads differently to you than it does to others because you have your intent in your head, but we don't have access to it. I'm writing this response hastily but here are some links to past explanations that go into these dynamics. Maybe they would be helpful (or maybe not).
The other thing I wanted to say quickly is: I think your reply here is a good example of the 'rebound' effect where someone responds to a moderation comment with a different version of what they intended to say. Usually that second formulation is more informative and less provocative, and if it had been what was originally posted, would have been fine.
Also, "If you were on my team I'd manage you" pattern-matches (at least in my mind) with the internet forum trope of "thank god I never have to work with you", often used as a putdown after someone describes something they did at work that the replier doesn't like.
I certainly agree with you about cynicism and so on.
This may be one of those cases where your comment reads differently to you than it does to others because you have your intent in your head, but we don't have access to it. I'm writing this response hastily but here are some links to past explanations that go into these dynamics. Maybe they would be helpful (or maybe not).
https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...
https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...
The other thing I wanted to say quickly is: I think your reply here is a good example of the 'rebound' effect where someone responds to a moderation comment with a different version of what they intended to say. Usually that second formulation is more informative and less provocative, and if it had been what was originally posted, would have been fine.
https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...