here is a poignant post that sheds light on his behavior (at least the online persona, because on the internet we are but avatars of our true self).

i think that in the private he is super kind, but of course i have no way to prove that, just as that he has probably never wrongfully hurt anyone (hurting feelings doesn't count), just my hunch.

people who have had even a passing short-term experience with the horrors of communism will never forget the discomfort of living in such a regime. of course there were people who lived well or ok in those environments, but they had to be either very smart or well-connected with the party.