While the developer's decision must be respected, I don't really understand it. Why not simply ban the troll instead of engaging with them in any way? I wouldn't want to give a troll any power or influence at all.
Yes. I think the author's point is that the standards are that low up here in North England, and outside of Manchester it's worse than in East Germany.
We must do something! This is something! Therefore we must do it!
That fucking mindset is what's going to kill the internet. I'm glad Daniel is resisting but like he says, he's but a small cog in a machine that's run by bean-counting idiots.