Unfortunately the Internet gives people the ability to be rude and invisible. It is a new type of pecking order -- those that are the nastiest win (or at least that's what they think). It will take time for people to learn some manners -- though I think manners are dying in the US. Your choices are: 1) ignore them; 2) admonish them as rude; or, 3) be as rude as they are. I tend to lean towards #1 and #2, though I have occasionally resorted to #3 (my bad). Don't give up. "State your truth quietly and clearly." -- Desirderata
@ProudMary It applies in real life as well. Manners seem to be dying. Blame permissiveness in parents, women's movement (not opening doors--I still do). I think manners stem from meeting a stranger, not knowing his motives, and taking a polite approach, rather than getting killed (ancient times), coupled with pregnant women (defense mode in males) or families with children. Easier to be nice. Now we can't fight or yell at someone in public -- we'd get arrested. Now manners are not what they were.