I think this answer was tolerated when SO wasn't as bad as it is now, and wouldn't be tolerated now from anyone.
It's because SO at the time was a small high-trust society where "everyone knew each other" and so things flew back then that wouldn't fly now.
alt Hacker News
It's because SO at the time was a small high-trust society where "everyone knew each other" and so things flew back then that wouldn't fly now.