Keyboard Warriors Getting Louder; So Are Calls for Civility

When Pierce County Council Member Robyn Denson (D-7th) logs onto Facebook, she does it with a purpose: to inform, not argue.

“I don’t have time to go back and forth in social media comment boxes,” she told Key Peninsula News, saying that some reactions to her news have grown increasingly sharp.

Denson’s posts about local projects — like the new Key Center speed table and planned roundabouts along State Route 302 and the KP Highway — have drawn hundreds of reactions since the summer.

Some residents question the design or cost; others say the county acted without public input, though details were published and have been available online for more than a year.

“I respect everyone’s right to their opinions,” Denson said. “But it’s best when people reach out constructively and we can make an effort to understand one another.”

Social media debate is hardly new on the Key Peninsula, but officials say the tone has shifted. Legitimate frustrations about traffic or taxes can morph into personal attacks, often from anonymous accounts.

“Negative voices always seem the loudest online,” Denson said.

She still answers calls and emails daily, invites residents to community coffees, and said the best work happens face-to-face. “I always learn from these conversations, and I can often provide information that helps residents understand the situation from others’ perspectives.”

She’s not alone in that approach. Public officials at every level said listening comes with the territory, and that online civility can be fragile.

In a statement to the KP News, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray’s (D-WA) office said it fields hundreds of messages each day, often from people “at their wits’ end” with federal agencies. “We do our best to respond to everyone — no matter who they are or how they express their concerns,” the statement said.

A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Emily Randall’s (D-6th CD) office said tone doesn’t change a message’s importance. “Politics touches people’s lives in very real and personal ways,” the spokesperson said. “Whether someone is happy, frustrated, or angry, their message will be taken seriously.”

At the state level, Sen. Deb Krishnadasan (D-26th) said the most productive exchanges are the ones that invite real dialogue. Constructive correspondence, she said, “allows for meaningful conversations and helps me better understand how proposed legislation affects individuals and families.” Her office tracks every concern, from supportive to critical, and she said those insights shape her work in Olympia.

Rep. Adison Richards (D-26th) said he knew what he was signing up for. “I came into this job under no illusion that I wasn’t going to hear nasty things,” he said. “But one of the most powerful things I can do is simply listen and understand that person is going through things I haven’t.”

Richards doesn’t shy away from tough conversations, online or off, but he tries to separate anger from substance. “As much as I advocate, I can’t wave a wand and fix the Purdy Bridge or (the KP Highway intersection at) 118th,” he said. “It’s more productive when people are respectful.”

He sees democracy itself in the messy middle. “Folks want more law enforcement and fewer speeders — then others complain about slowing down or feeling over-policed,” he said. “That’s democracy.”

Rep. Michelle Caldier (R-26th), who has served the Key Peninsula area since 2014, agreed that accessibility to lawmakers is key. “Our No.1 job is to be accessible to the public,” she said. “When a legislator isn’t accessible, that’s a red flag.”

Caldier said she personally reads every email sent to her office. What resonates most are “stories of how something affects you — facts, data, and a personal story,” she said. When people start “raising their voices, it’s harder to hear their point of view.” She added that testifying before committees remains one of the best and least-used ways to get in front of lawmakers.

Every official interviewed by KP News said disagreement is healthy and inevitable; the challenge is knowing when it crosses the line. For Denson, it’s when misinformation spreads faster than facts. “Sometimes I’ll respond if something is so egregiously wrong that I feel compelled to correct it,” she said. “But I often regret it.”

She prefers to invest her time in constituent casework: permits, dangerous trees, housing concerns, and road safety.

Many also say the online backlash often masks real-world stress.

“We live in a time where many folks are struggling,” Richards said. “If you listen long enough, the frustration usually comes from somewhere deeper.”

At the federal and state levels, lawmakers echoed that listening with empathy is key — and that tone shouldn’t determine whether someone is heard.

Officials know the town square has expanded to screens and that the volume is always high. Yet they say democracy depends on keeping the conversation going.

“I try to remember we’re all doing our best to do what we think is right,” Denson said. “We may not always agree, but I believe people have good intentions — and I hope they know mine are good too.”

Even amid the noise, she said, genuine conversations still happen. “At community events or in the grocery store, I get so much positive feedback,” she said. “Those interactions lift my spirits. We love helping residents; that’s truly the bright spot of this job.”