I dont think audiophiles are more or less mean than anyone else or other hobby. Online audiophiles however……

Past a certain level people are so invested in their setup, and the rationale of how they got there, that it almost becomes a competition for them. No one else can measure up. People with questions about it are silly or worse heretical. To gently oppose them is a prelude to war.

Anything online at the hyper niche level gets this way. High end audiophiles, especially online, tend to be loners seeking validation through proving themselves or disproving others. Their life tends to revolve around it, and the hobby itself becomes secondary. AVS is brutal for this.

This is the same for any hobby. Super niche hobbyists with little compromise in their goals tends to compromise everything else. Like manners or self reflection.