I think I’m one of the examples Roo has in mind because she’s expressed similar sentiment in the past to me specifically. I’ve talked in extensive detail about my traumatic experiences on these boards, often in the course of debate. Often I wasn’t in a rational state of mind but dealing with some personal trigger. Some apparently perceived this as trying to manipulate the conversation or shield myself from criticism.
What it really was, was compulsive behavior driven by severe PTSD. I did not have access to the treatment I needed for a long time. I left the boards for a few years to get it straightened out. Sufficed to say, I no longer feel physically, viscerally threatened by words on a message board. I’m probably always going to be open to a degree, but it’s coming from a completely different place now.
What you have, I think, is two people on opposite sides of the trauma coin. One coped privately and the other wasn’t coping at all. The best we can do, I hope, is extend grace to each other.
Obviously having a traumatic history should not make someone immune to criticism. You can be traumatized and extremely wrong. But people should not be mocked or insulted about their trauma. And of course nobody should feel compelled to disclose. Nobody owes anyone their story.