Tone Policing Criticism

Comments accusing others of being snarky, condescending, pedantic, arrogant, or passive-aggressive in their responses, often focusing on the delivery rather than the content.

➡️ Stable 0.5x Other
5,874
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4994
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
10
2008
50
2009
88
2010
113
2011
155
2012
195
2013
314
2014
214
2015
230
2016
314
2017
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2018
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2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025
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2026
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Keywords

YOU RE pedantic sounds brag bit sounds bit whoa needlessly humble like bad aggressive

Sample Comments

antonvs Sep 10, 2022 View on HN

You’re being a bit prickly about this.

jonas21 Sep 6, 2022 View on HN

That sounds a bit patronizing to be honest.

shanelja Sep 27, 2012 View on HN

You are being needlessly snarky.

geowwy Apr 26, 2019 View on HN

This sounds a lot like a humble-brag :)

rajup Jan 26, 2022 View on HN

You say that like it’s a bad thing

smutticus May 21, 2013 View on HN

That's such an arrogant thing to say :(

dschuetz Apr 17, 2018 View on HN

That sounds really condescending, to be honest.

scarface_74 Sep 9, 2023 View on HN

You act like that’s a bad thing…

mirceal Nov 18, 2017 View on HN

some people may say you're kinda-of a jerk for pointing this out :)

pyuser583 Jun 23, 2021 View on HN

Your condescension speaks volumes.