Was I taking this too personally? Here’s the thing: When people are angry on the internet, they get personal. And they get mean. And boy, do they get creative.

Soon, people weren’t just commenting on the article. They found me on Facebook, on my photography website, and on Twitter. I tried replying to a couple of the messages, telling people that I had provided a disclaimer about the reality of micropigs, but they weren’t appeased. When it comes to public shaming on the internet, no one wants the object of ridicule to have a voice. That just takes the fun away. Besides, when it comes to writing for the internet, you learn quickly that the general rule is to never engage the commenters.

One person publicly posted on my photography company’s Facebook page an article that National Geographic had done on micropigs. “Here’s some real journalism…” she wrote. Without replying, I agreed. National Geographic, indeed, does in-depth articles about nature and animals and provides compelling research. They do a great job.

I wrote captions for a listicle about pigs that were smaller than usual. He was offended anyway.