Well- Bite My Tongue...

Walk away. With so...many gatherers, You'd probably find yourself blasting all the time and that kinda takes the fun out of gathering,
Opinions are like A..holes,,,,,Everybody's got one.
Keep writing!!!!!

I HATE MEAN PEOPLE... and that's all I'm going to say about that :)

Blast back.

I think people tend to forget that no issue is black or white. For as strongly as you may belive in your stand there will be someone just as firm on the opposite end of the spectrum. If you get into a cyber version of a shouting contest nothing will be accomplished...That being said sometimes I post comments (or articles) just to stir the pot a little.

Healthy discussion is one thing, blasting back is another. If someone wants to discuss a topic, I'll get into the conversation. If it seems like a rant or just trying to elicit comments for the sake of comments, I'll pass. And I'd rather be positive, if I can. There's enough negativity running around loose in the world as it is. :-)

I respectfully disagree, James. If you conduct yourself properly, online discussions do not have to turn into "shouting matches." In fact, I find the back-and-forth of dialogue between two people with opposing viewpoints to be stimulating. "Stirring the pot," as you call it, is also "stirring the mind." And we need as much of that as we can get on Gather.

Go ahead and share your view if you feel strongly enough. Sometimes, opinions of others deserve a response; sometimes they don't. If they happen to be wrong about something; they need to be corrected if there's misinformation and it's not just their opinion that's not agreed with.

If I do blast, I often don't go back and check out the response. I think I am too embarrassed about myself. Too insecure. Sometimes I even go in a day later and delete my comment without ever even looking to see if someone put me down or not. Still, I can't seem to keep my mouth shut though, when I first feel that outrage pouring over me. I don't think I have made very many friends here, because I am always just so upset at what is going on with our country, and it has gotten so that I gravitate almost exclusively to those kinds of articles.

I generally walk away. At my age, I've done more than my share of blasting back and have very seldom achieved satisfaction that way. I'm not young enough to know everything but I do know very few people actually care to consider any opinion not in line with their own.

I will generally leave a comment if it isn't too heated of a discussion. However, I have seen some people get down right vicious on here. Some people get very mean on here. I have enough going on in my life right now. I don't need to add any people to it or those that think they are so much better than other people. In those cases, I will walk away.

It depends on my mood how I respond.

You're right, though- it seems that a whole lot of people have sticks up their butts today!

CRABBY!!! EEK!

I think it is interesting that if you have a different opinion than the writer, it is considered an attack. I have had people tell me that they didnt need comments that were mean or hateful when all I did was disagree. They say if you dont have anything nice to say, dont comment at all. Thats crap, this is a public forum, if I have taken the time to read your article I have earned the right to comment, you posted your opinion, now I am posting mine. Too many poeple here think they deserve pats on the back and tens for all they do, that is not the case. If you are afraid of what people will say, dont post it. There are several people here that have differing political views than I do, but they have always been respectful to me, and I to them, I enjoy a little debate now and then, its healthy, and fun.

It all depends on my mood as well..and sometimes it depends on how pissed off I may get..

Jody, giant python of love, you have crystallized my thoughts eloquently.

Blasting - no; Walking away - sometimes. I agree with Mary Beth. A difference of opinion is good. It gets people thinking - hopefully. Blasting will usually shut that door to productive communication.

I'm not always that tolerant but I do try to use some discretion with my responses.

Just let it go. thanks for sharing..

I walk away. "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"

Can we pick both? It all depends on what they are commenting on. But all in all I call them jerks!

I think you did a noble thing by not lowering yourself to their level, good for you!

I've already done both, and I've only been a member for a short period of time. The problem for me is that blasting takes more out of me than the person it's directed at (oops I ended the sentence with a preposition).
I guess I'm a lover not a fighter!