“Don’t respond to your critics. They have too much time on their hands.”

Made me stop and think. I've always been one to stand up against what I've seen as abuse, of whatever sort, and not just for myself but when I've witnessed it happening to others. It's taken a mountain of time and whilst it may have made some difference on occasion, I think that on balance, it has probably not been productive.

As well as criticism for having the gall to engage for others being besieged by bullies, I have of course received much direct abuse for my own response to abusive attacks on myself.

Most noticeable for me, is that far too few people seem able to see the distinction between the person and the issue. Any critique of the (supposed) argument becomes, no matter how articulately and politely expressed, an assault on the person. The result is so often expletive ridden directions to do the impossible to oneself.

I realise now that I've spent too much time attempting to reason with those who behave that way. As Jonathan Swift said: "It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into." I believe that to be excellent advice for people making the mistake that - if I read it right - is the subject of your article.

You mention time and reaching 50. I'm now 75 and how I regret the time I've wasted on attempting to reason contrary to Swift's dictum. - Life is too short. I could have used that time in simply writing my own views on whatever, rather than on responding, almost pointlessly, to inane or damaging views that probably, consciously or otherwise, are written that way for the very reason that they do catch one's attention.

Having read your article and often thought about my own behaviour of this sort, I feel extremely foolish that only an hour ago, I failed to heed what I've just expounded as my own view on this issue.

Thank you for reminding me. It's not for the first time I have learned or re-learned as a result of your work.