I think a lot of the issue is that observers do not get the whole story, because they are not privy to the private communications.

And while sometimes the line between a “differences of opinion” and one person actually attacking another can look blurry to outsiders, if you are the one on the receiving end of an attack, it feels like an attack, period.

Anyway, I am so sorry you and others got hurt in all this. It is especially sad when friendships are affected. I hope you are able to heal from this – it is hard stuff (even if some people think it is “just the Internet,” I personally think that online relationships have significance).