First, admit it: no matter how gentle the Schoolmarm’s language is, you are going to perceive her response as a slap, and perhaps as an embarrassment. It’s only natural. Try, though, to take a deep breath and give it some thought. (Including, about why you are so put off by it.)

And consider formulating a reply to the Schoolmarm’s response. Think about where (if at all) the Schoolmarm has made a valid point, and where you disagree. You might, for example, have a substantive argument about the merits; or you might accuse the Schoolmarm of missing the forest for the trees; or you might even question the value of the Schoolmarm’s entire enterprise.

The Schoolmarm is only human (yes, really—not a bot), and knows that she sometimes makes errors herself. Sometimes she misinterprets the intent of a post, and sometimes she may be unaware of a crucial fact pertinent to the issue. When errors are pointed out, the Schoolmarm tries as much as possible to reply with an acknowledgement. Or, in some cases she may try to explain why she still thinks her critique was correct.

Finally, take note of your own motivations for your original post. Do you have a particular mission or goal? Do you simply enjoy stirring things up for fun? Are you trying to cultivate a particular image? Are you trying to increase your following? Is your participation, on balance, helping our country and its democratic republic? On social media, many people are so concerned with status games that they seldom think about the broader effects of competitive posting.