Social media: we love to hate it and hate to love it. 

In today’s hyper-connected world social media is seen as a tool to keep in touch with our friends, family, and your random aunt who you haven’t seen since you were six years old. 

Sharing photos and videos, messaging with each other, and posting life updates are all cheerful and positive ways to keep connected on social media. 

But there’s a dark side that we are all aware of, from negative comments to bullying and harassment. It seems that hiding behind a keyboard can bring out the worst in people. 

Unfortunately, that was on display on the Democrat’s very own Facebook page when we posted about the No Kings protest that took place in Monticello on March 28.

We won’t even repeat the comments here, but they included profanity and mocking of our elderly population. 

This is completely inappropriate. 

Regardless of one’s own personal views about the protest, there’s no reason to mock and belittle others, or purposely try to offend them. 

Others questioned why we were “giving attention” to the protest. Perhaps they need a little Journalism 101: who, what, where, when, and why. 

Reporting on events that are occurring in our community doesn’t mean that we support those events, it means they are happening, and we are there to not only inform readers but also to keep record. 

While we print our paper twice a week every Tuesday and Friday, having an online presence is part of the reality of newspapers and media companies today. 

The recent comments on our page make us want to implement changes, be it blocking those who write offensive things, or turning off comments altogether. 

We don’t want to do that. 

There have been many studies showing the negative effects of social media on children and teens. Navigating how to use social media and enforce safety measures is at the top of mind for many parents, policy makers and youth advocates. 

It’s sad to think we live in a world where adults also face these challenges. 

So we issue this reminder: let’s keep it cordial. 

All about trout

April 1 marked the opening of Trout season, and the The Roscoe Chamber of Commerce held the “First Cast” at 7 AM (see stories on pages 1B and 11B).

Anglers anticipate this opening day all year and the outlook looks good for fly fishing.

Roscoe and Livingston Manor are popular hot spots for avid fishermen at the Willowemoc and Beaverkill rivers, the birth place of American fly fishing. 

Tight lines!