Yesterday I sent out a community newsletter that also contained a clearly labelled opinion piece. I received two responses — one a thank you with a query about birds.

The other from an abusive bully. Screenshot shows one line …

I found it very satisfying to reply:

Thoughtless, rude AND abusive! For shame. You're old enough to know better. Banned.

@Miraz Ugh! What a gross person. They sound utterly miserable.

@Miraz If it’s divisive, then maybe he’s on the miserable grump side of the divide, alone, I think and hope. I don’t know his circumstances, but I don’t think this is called for in any thinkable scenario.

@SimonWoods He is! He’s a bully.

@odd He’s not alone, unfortunately, but luckily the number of people who actively let me know they enjoy my newsletter is much greater. 😀

@Miraz What a bully! I’m relishing the “you’re old enough to know better” part of your reply. 🤭

@Miraz It’s a community newsletter. We have one as well. What could possibly be so divisive?

@cygnoir 😆

@Miraz Sounds like they use Nextdoor. Good riddance.

@paulcraig901 There is a local issue that has split the community and recent events are pushing the two sides further apart. I included a clearly labelled ‘opinion’ into the otherwise usually fact-based newsletter. If you happen to be interested enough: buttondown.email/WowWaikaw…

@Miraz I got that. I just meant his kind of unhelpful trolling is usually what people post on Nextdoor, not emailed replies for a local newsletter.

@gregmoore Oh I see. Thanks for clarifying. 😀

@Miraz You received backlash for that?!?

We have more proof some humans are very bad at picking battles.

If I’d received that in my community newsletter, I would have thought, “Wow… she really cares a lot about where we live. I should get to know her better because we have that in common.”

@paulcraig901 Thanks. I know I’m onto something right though when I get that kind of response. 😆

@cheribaker Thanks!

@Miraz I, for one, agreed with your opinion. I dislike people driving vehicles on the beach. I mean, c’mon! At least step out to feel the sand. You don’t have to drive to everywhere. People with mobility issues can perhaps ride in a golf cart. You sounded rightly passionate in what’s clearly labeled an opinion pieces. Maybe being likened to an addict might have pissed them off but that’s no excuse for accusing you of being divisive when it clearly affected only them.

@pratik They have in fact forced open and polarised what was previously a range of opinions about vehicles on the beach. Standard tactic to accuse a ‘rival’ of something you’re doing yourself.

@Miraz Ha! Exactly. Used often by people who have no other counterpoint but to claim they have been offended and it’s we who are divisive.

@Miraz I’m sure s/he meant to say, “Your work is divine.”

@the 😁