they shouldn’t be getting dragged through a trial-like thing for following the rules we gave them
They don’t need to be personally involved. The rules protect author’s posts, they don’t give the author immunity from being discussed somewhere else.
This situation is a question that merits discussion, with implications for general policy. It might have no place in this particular thread, but it should have a place somewhere convenient (perhaps some sort of dedicated meta “subreddit”, or under a meta tag). Not discussing particular cases restricts allowed forms of argument, distorts understanding in systematic ways.
They don’t need to be personally involved. The rules protect author’s posts, they don’t give the author immunity from being discussed somewhere else.
This situation is a question that merits discussion, with implications for general policy. It might have no place in this particular thread, but it should have a place somewhere convenient (perhaps some sort of dedicated meta “subreddit”, or under a meta tag). Not discussing particular cases restricts allowed forms of argument, distorts understanding in systematic ways.