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Occasionally, when an article appears in the Eagle like Wednesday’s “Politics get personal at council meeting,” I will get a couple of complaints from readers.

“Don’t you know stuff like this makes Marco look bad” or “how can I sell my house with this stuff being reported in the news.”

Since the question is inevitable, I’ve decided to answer you in print today.

First, reporters such as Kelly Farrell do not sit through City Council meetings sifting through the ill-mannered topics to find the golden nugget that will make the island shine in the best light. Her chair is occupied by everyone who cares what happens in their city and who could not be present at the meeting. They depend on her to report what really happens.

Readers that depend on us also include those who don’t fully understand what’s going on. They turn to us to help explain the situation. And I must admit, sometimes it’s a challenge.

But let’s get to the core of the issue: Those citizens who argue and fight and name call and act like children. They’re the ones you should be calling the next day, not me. Although I do welcome your feedback, they’re the only ones who can put a stop to it. Demand decorum from your citizenry and your elected officials, and they will have no choice but to respond.

As I promised to keep this short and sweet — as to avoiding adding my voice to the many rants that occur — I have but one final point. When I look beyond the nastiness and finger-pointing, all I see, and most readers see, is a group of people who really care about what happens here. That’s a good thing. I’ve been in too many cities where the people do not attend council meetings, ignore the news and rarely speak out.

If a little nastiness is the price for thoroughly debated issues, I’ll pay it every time.