As a reader who comments, I do my very best to give my real reaction/thoughts to the topic at hand. If it is in disagreement to the topic, I take care to be constructive, hope my thoughts are clear, and cant be misconstrued. Hopefully my choice of words conveys what I really mean - that's easier for some, I am not always so eloquent. If some one is irritated by what I have said hopefully it is not due to how I have said it. 
I have found it very interesting how comments stray from the the topic at hand, gving food for thought so to speak. It is part of IRL conversations. On line though, I find there's times it would be nice to comment back and forth, but the usual pattern is that the moment has passed.
As for social media, new to that, really enjoying it. Like everything, there's good and bad from it. I look for balance, and what is a right fit for me. No, I did not follow back the guy claimmming to be green and recycle unwanted adult toys..... still wondering why he follwed me... (it was random OK?) Oh crikey, now I am straying :-)
Would like to add that I feel writing off anything as 'bad' before giving it a chance and seeing what could be right just seems unreasonable.