There’s something I need to get off my chest. And I say this not just as your editor, but as someone who believes in the soul of community journalism, the power of grassroots action, and, above all, the importance of basic human decency. What I’m talking about today isn’t just ignorance—it’s a particularly corrosive flavor of ignorance that seems to have taken root right here in our own backyard. Not the kind of ignorance you chuckle about when you see some guy in the Deep South trying to BBQ with TNT next to a gator pond—that’s a whole different breed. No, what we’re talking about here is the insidious, willful ignorance of the social media warrior.
You know the type. They scroll. They skim. They comment before reading the first sentence. They know everything about everything, except the actual content of the article they’re spewing vitriol beneath. And unfortunately, they’re louder than ever.
Now, before I go full throttle, let me offer a real-world example from just this week—because context is everything.
Yesterday, I received a heartfelt call from a woman named Tanya Armstrong. A soft-spoken, deeply compassionate soul who has dedicated herself to advocating for the senior community. She’s not a politician, not a paid activist—just a concerned citizen. Tanya had an idea, a message, and a plan. She wanted to organize a peaceful protest called “Hands Off Social Security”, aimed at raising awareness about protecting the very programs that support so many of our neighbors, parents, and grandparents.
She came to us because she knew we’d listen. She knew the Grants Pass Tribune is different. We don’t wait for the ink to dry—we’re digital, real-time, and unapologetically rooted in the people we serve. We are by the people, for the people, and that means elevating voices that might otherwise go unheard. Tanya needed a fast way to spread the word, and other local outlets either wouldn’t or couldn’t help. We did. Proudly.
And then the wolves came out.
In a matter of hours, the comments section lit up—not with support or thoughtful discussion—but with a flood of hate, mockery, and outrage from people who obviously hadn’t even read past the headline. Many completely missed the point of Tanya’s message. Others made cruel assumptions. The loudest voices seemed to take pleasure in mocking a peaceful protest organized by an elderly woman on her own time and dime—all because they misunderstood it, or worse, didn’t bother to understand it at all.
Let me be clear: that’s not free speech, that’s disgraceful behavior. And it says a lot more about you than it does about her. Tanya didn’t ask for attention, she didn’t want controversy—she just wanted to help. And in return, she got digitally trampled by people who couldn’t even read the first paragraph.
What sets the Grants Pass Tribune apart is simple—we report the news for the people, by the people. While we’d love to fill our pages with feel-good stories every day, our mission goes deeper. We’re here to dig into the uncomfortable truths, too. We confront issues head-on, even when the truth is messy, inconvenient, or unpopular. Where others might tiptoe around controversy or turn a blind eye, we shine a light exactly where it’s needed most. We don’t sugarcoat reality, and we’re not chasing clicks—we’re here to reflect this community honestly, in all its grit and glory, and to stand with those who still believe in the power of truth, integrity, and doing what’s right.
So, to those who filled the feed with bile: shame on you. You owe Tanya—and yourselves—an apology. Better yet, show up to her rally. Look her in the eye. Listen to what she has to say. You might learn something.
The problem isn’t with freedom of speech. The problem is the abuse of it, the apathy behind it, and the cowardice that fuels it.
You can do better, Grants Pass. And we will keep doing our part to hold the mirror up.
