The need to belong often results in people wanting to say something popular and noble--like FR is comprised of nuts. In doing so, Sean imagines he is winning new friends and listeners. He is actually doing the opposite over some minor pique that really is unimportant.
Sean needs deep, analytic treatment from someone who can say to him, "...remember what thumper says, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.." This kind of advice usually comes from a perceptive mother, otherwise you need to spend big $ to hear the same but in a more complicated way.
LOL!
This PhD in clinical psych agrees with you wholesale.