Last week’s column — "Why so few online liberal commenters?" — generated such a strong reader reaction that I thought I would close the loop and discuss what our online readers had to say about it.

They certainly said a lot. By the time I submitted this column Thursday to prepare for publication in Sunday’s edition, it had 180 reader comments on theday.com, by far the most on any item on theday.com last week, and they were still coming in.

A few disagreed with my premise — that conservative views tend to dominate the reader comment discussions on political articles and commentaries — but not many.

Many conservative commenters wrote that they take the opportunity to comment out of frustration with the political direction of the state, and what they see as liberal bias in the media, including here at The Day.

"The clichés, sacred cows, and liberal orthodoxy that are never challenged in print, get challenged in this forum," wrote someone using the pseudonym “Casper.”

"The Democrats and progressive philosophy have managed this state into the ground. The Day is ridiculously biased, particularly your editorial page. You should be ashamed to have the privilege to inform the public, but instead use that platform to blatantly support a political party,” wrote “The Wizard.”

I strongly disagree with the bias charge. From my perspective, our news department is even-handed in its political coverage. As for the Opinion page, we offer both liberal and conservative commentary. Editorially, we may endorse more Democrats, but we have endorsed many a Republican as well, and have been critical of many a Democratic leader.

As for the many left-leaning who also responded to the column, a common response as to why they don’t weigh in more often was: Why bother?

“GiveMeABreak” said he (or she) was tired of reading "the same people saying the same things, over and over and over again."

“Perhaps liberals have better things to do with their time than argue with adamant conservative sheep whose attitude is ‘My way or the highway’ and refuse to take off their blinders long enough to have an educated debate,” GiveMeABreak added.

Some readers felt the tendency for more conservative comments is because the newspaper’s editorials more often favor a progressive agenda.

"Generally, if you agree with the article or editorial, you do not tend to comment. Hence, for the DAY, not many progressive commentators,” wrote “wtfdnucsailor.”

“Longtime mystic resident” questioned if I wrote a provocative column in hopes of avoiding the six unpaid furlough days those of us here at The Day will be taking in the next few weeks to keep our budget balanced, a result of a drop in print advertising.

That blasted Internet!

"I bet if the comment count hits 200, Choiniere doesn't get furloughed," wrote LMR.

Alas, no, I get the furlough days like everyone else.

Many decried the nasty tone reader comments sometimes take and the fact the conversation often goes off topic. Fittingly, segments of the conversation about my column went off topic.

Some responders recommended we require people to use their real names and better organize the conversations.

Don’t “allow commentators to hide behind pseudonyms, but instead … require commentators to use their real names," wrote “Herman Melville,” who added his actual name, Mark Mathew Braunstein. “The Day's interface here could be upgraded as is done in other newspapers' comments so that the comments that refer to previous comments (rather than specifically to the article itself) could be sub-headed.”

Those charged with designing and setting policy for theday.com are aware of your comments and will consider them as our website continues to evolve.

Then there was “WillowTalan,” who labeled me a crybaby.

“Are you lying on the floor, Mr. Choiniere? Kicking your feet? This is a pretty sorry whine fest, and I'm sorry, it's typical liberal behavior. ‘Waa, there's not enough people defending our failed ideas, actions, talk, agendas, political leaders! That's not FAIR!’”

Well, actually, no. To be candid, I sort of like getting folks stirred up, though I do feel we should all remain civil. I observed a phenomenon and commented on it, which is what I do. No tears were shed.

Thanks for the feedback.

Paul Choiniere is the editorial page editor.

Twitter: @Paul_Choiniere

p.choiniere@theday.com