No, the difference is between a well connected mob going after a single person (Niemann) vs. a single person going after several.
The former is always excused, presumably because people's ancient group instincts kick in. The latter is a single heretic that must be destroyed.
The group does much more damage than the individual. Everyone already thought that Kramnik's pseudo-mathematical evidence was garbage, so why the ban? The answer is that he mentioned well connected people like Nakamura, so the rogue nail needed to be hammered in.
Groups are never punished, and 95% of Internet commenters always excuse the group.
The former is always excused, presumably because people's ancient group instincts kick in. The latter is a single heretic that must be destroyed.
The group does much more damage than the individual. Everyone already thought that Kramnik's pseudo-mathematical evidence was garbage, so why the ban? The answer is that he mentioned well connected people like Nakamura, so the rogue nail needed to be hammered in.
Groups are never punished, and 95% of Internet commenters always excuse the group.