I don't hate Tony Aikens. We go back sixty years. I do hate what he's done to Lenoir City and the county that can never be undone. Just because I report on his actions as mayor doesn't mean I hate him at all. If the facts hurt, I can't help that. Don't shoot the messenger. Look, if I report anything that's not absolutely correct, I expect someone to call me out on it and I'll certainly make any corrections.

I don't hate Jeanne Barker. She's just doing what she thinks she needs to do to preserve her job and the high school. Her telling commission what we should be doing would be like a neighbor who's yard is a mess, their kids are awful and they're in debt up to their eyeballs. You even give them money every month to help them get by. Then, that neighbor comes over to your house to tell you how you should be running your life and business.

I don't hate our local, social media trolls and the wannabes. By the most part, most have no idea what they're talking about. I do hate the fact that they can go to their keyboards, write some of the most outrageous statements and accusations with absolutely no basis of fact or reality. But if I could give them a little advice, if you're going to speak at government meetings, at least try to get some of your statements right. When you stand before people to make bold statements and accusations and you're wrong on every count, your credibility doesn't hold up very well.

I've been writing stories on my website for over twenty years. If I write a story on some dirty deeds by someone, that doesn't mean I hate them. It just means that they did something worth reporting.

That's what I do.