Aside from the irony inherent in the signer-off of the insulting PASS poster - who initially defended the poster and trivialised objections to it - coming out as the Defender of Dignity of the subordinate estate, a number of interesting dynamics seem to be at play here.
On an obvious level, perhaps, yet another impertinent PASSperson being smacked down for voicing an opinion on a listserv; or perhaps it was the use of humour in the context of a Deadly Serious Topic that was being chastised. Either way, I was rather more distubed at two other dynamics I read in that post.
The first, which asked about the "disrespect for professional and administrative staff that [the poster to whom the reply was addressed] also complain[s] about" implied that individuals within a system cannot be separated from the system within which they find themselves. On the planet whence I hail, it is perfectly conceivable to hold individuals, and even the work they do, in respect, while being critical of the system within which they are located. In fact, it is even conceivable for those same individuals, while working to high standards of diligence and professionalism, to be critical themselves of the system. Judgment and discretion are defining characteristics of professionals, after all. I'd even go so far as to say that failing to disaggregate the individuals from the system is disrespectful, and denies them discretion and agency - a view which may in its turn attract censure.
The second dynamic which disturbed me appeared in the question: "Are these the 'functionaries' that David Benatar talked about?" This apparent attempt to corral together all dissenting voices reminded me worryingly of the attempts back in - was it '84? - by the apartheid government to group together all opposition to its planned tricameral parliament, be it far-far-far Right or Left in origin, so as to dismiss it more easily. This ultimately backfired as the process spawned the formation of the United Democratic Front, the mobilisation of grassroots organisations and the galvanising of hitherto fragmented resistance into a significant political force. I hope the same strategic error is not at play here.