Honestly, this is why I've stopped reading the comments. Though I know I alienate myself and offend people by not responding when they comment on my work. I've found that all the crazy and often mean reactions to my pieces inhibit my process. These reactions get into my head, bog me down, and most importantly, keep me from airing my opinion honestly. People really will misconstrue our words to mean something we never intended them to mean. You're right; each reader's reaction is their responsibility. We're not here to protect the reader from whatever reaction they might have. We're just here to air our side of the story to contribute to the greater narrative.