True, semicolons can be used for more than just conveying superiority, but that doesn’t mean that the original premise of this essay was wrong. In fact, it’s quite the contrary! As an adult, I now understand that the semicolon is not just this mysterious punctuation mark that li’l ol’ me thought only grown-ups could use. By expressing two distinct thoughts within a single sentence, while still maintaining a certain level of sophistication, the semicolon is way much more than just a tool to make someone feel better than another.
This is exactly why grown-ups use it to subtly convey a message of superiority. After all, the subtleness of the semicolon allows them to express themselves in a manner that’s both sophisticated and overtly clear. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying that the retort was wrong! All I’m saying is that it didn’t address the main point of the original essay—that is, grown-ups do use this punctuation mark to express a certain level of superiority.
Plus, what was the original author so wrong about? It's okay to admit that grown-ups do have a tendency to overuse semicolons for the purpose of expressing superiority. But aside from that, I think we can all agree that there are plenty of other valid uses for this punctuation mark—and that's something no one can disagree with!