I don’t doubt you have justifications for your opinion, but I already agree that changing an algorithm or backend isn’t off-topic for Julia; what are programming languages for if not implementing algorithms and using libraries? My example was about mathematical proofs, such as a disagreement over using the axiom of choice. The key difference is Julia cannot move that debate or vice versa, so it should soon be moved somewhere else. It might even warrant deletion if it provokes and draws more debate unrelated to Julia. Even when something could potentially be implemented in or used via Julia, people have been gently turned away when there aren’t the resources to replicate a large established library in Julia and there aren’t wrappers for it.
I think the most important point is that this is a moderated space. Full stop. Don’t act like a jerk, or we’ll moderate you. We’re not an all-encompassing government, you have no right to unrestricted freedom of speech here. There are plenty of other places to show the world you’re a jerk if you’d like.
The problem isn’t so much about empowering moderators to moderate jerks — we definitely have that power! — as it is about setting expectations on non-jerk commentaries.
What really predicated this topic was that folks were flagging Offtopic topics as off topic. 
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