Lessee, I was given some excellent advice/perspective at that time by Doc B (keeper of one of the most civilized places on the virtual planet!) via private email. It went something like:

Never mud wrestle with a pig. Inevitably, you'll feel disgusted and filthy, and he'll be lovin' it the whole time! You have to figure the intelligent, rational people in the crowd know who's who and what's what, and who cares what the rest think . . . . . .