Thank you! Yes, you can mute and block authors. I think you stop seeing their comments after you block them.

I was expecting a debate, and I am not opposed to alternative viewpoints. This particular situation had me thinking for days. But I was surprised when people started saying things like, "he's selfish, he only thinks of himself."

Sometimes when people become really committed to an idea they stop being rational. They don't see any disagreement as part of a discussion, but as an attack on them personally.

I'm kind of used to it after all the political articles I've written. It just surprised me in the case of this article. Thanks for the comment!