With all the social tension and pain that come from honest differences of opinion and ways of looking at the world, it's astounding to me when I see people intentionally go through the trouble to intentionally construct an insult that strikes at the core of who someone is. I doubt I know the person who did it, but I can only imagine that they place value in their target's pain. Occasionally I feel protective of people I know - this is one of those times. It looks like I'm not the only person who feels this way.
It's kind of odd to be hearing about KGB events from the outside. It seems to be a pattern in my life to find a social circle, stay with it for a year or so, and then leave for some reason or another, keeping ties with a few people from it.