I’ve been saddened by the derogatory, condescending and downrigh

Avalon - I’ve been saddened by the derogatory, condescending and downright insulting comments made towards me as an author of a Spout Off online. While I appreciate the Herald providing a forum for open, anonymous submissions of grievances, ideas, etc., the nastiness that comment threads devolve into speaks volumes to the downside of online anonymity. Based on where you live, you can be called elitist, spoiled, lazy, uncharitable, etc. based on nothing but your zip code. I understand why people do this, what the goal is. As such, I’d hope it wouldn’t bother me, but it has. I’m not elitist, just raised better.