In the latest episode of local outrage and intolerance, “multiple people,” according to a front-page story in The Day, “UPDATE: GOP committee calls for Groton Board of Education member to resign over Facebook comments,” (Sept. 9), called for a school board member’s resignation based on comments the member made on social media. The comments were unrelated to school board business but the schools superintendent said that they do not align with the values and beliefs of the board. The superintendent, by the way, is answerable to the board, including the member in question, and taxpayers, not the other way around.

The board planned to meet to discuss how to pursue its options, which sounds a lot like trying to pressure the member to resign. This kind of intimidation is reminiscent of the recent kerfuffle over online comments posted by a Stonington police commissioner − comments that had nothing to do with police policy. Instead of working ourselves into a frothy sense of self-righteous indignation over comments not germane to the actual business at hand, and calling for the resignations of community volunteers, perhaps a wiser course would be to focus on the policies and overall performance of the various boards and commissions. And rethink our overly emotional reactions to some of the things people say online.

Nicolas Furlotte

Groton

Editor's note: The board member, Gretchen Newsome, did subsequently resign.