Do you know what scares me (as they say "with all due respect") statements like this:
"I'm just coming off the tails of the rally yesterday."
(Emotion involved in your thinking process? We're not talking about a brutal attack that you yourself witnessed. We are talking about being at a rally and hearing what someone is saying. A great thing about HN is the discourse on both sides and even then there can be a echo chamber and crowd effect.)
"I'm also coming from the position of hearing Greenwald describe an imminent set of leaks"
(Accuracy of this information - have you decided he is correct?)
If I had to label myself (and I don't like to label myself) I would say I am the opposite of this:
"I'm personally an idealistic, rather than pragmatic, person"
Why does that scare you? The commenter made an honest disclosure of a relevant activity, indicating that they have strong feelings about the subject. Discouraging such disclosures doesn't prevent parties from having strong feelings, but rather may encourage them to conceal their motivations. People can have feelings, and still maintain honesty in their arguments. Expecting everyone to have a detached objectiveness might be ideal (or might not), but is an unrealistic expectation; entirely impractical in a public debate.
I think it's great that it was disclosed my intention was not to give someone a reason not to disclose although I guess I see how that might be the result of a comment like mine. (As a side note that's not an entirely infrequent occurrence on HN "shoot first" (downvote) based upon agreement or disagreement not wanting to hear opposing views.
"I'm just coming off the tails of the rally yesterday."
(Emotion involved in your thinking process? We're not talking about a brutal attack that you yourself witnessed. We are talking about being at a rally and hearing what someone is saying. A great thing about HN is the discourse on both sides and even then there can be a echo chamber and crowd effect.)
"I'm also coming from the position of hearing Greenwald describe an imminent set of leaks"
(Accuracy of this information - have you decided he is correct?)
If I had to label myself (and I don't like to label myself) I would say I am the opposite of this:
"I'm personally an idealistic, rather than pragmatic, person"