> The bit that you're (intentionally?) missing is that this is just a polite way of saying "you're full of shit".

If someone is full of shit, and assuming you care, then logically you would put in the effort to fix their misunderstanding, not tell them off. Exclaiming that someone is "full of shit", politely or not, is stupid. If you don't care, then why not own it? Don't care.

> The only person being stupid here is the person making strong empirical claims without qualifying them or providing supporting evidence.

There can be more than one stupid party involved.

> I could see a reasonable complaint that asking for studies is being passive-aggressive

It is just straight up nonsensical. I get that is was only ever a silly meme and always understood to be nonsensical, but a meme that has become quite tired. It was funny 20 years ago, perhaps, but at this point it is time to lay it to rest. I mean, anything goes in discussion. If you still think it is edgy, go for it. But the rest of us will still think it is stupid.