Jeff, I really know how that feels. The internet is certainly full of people like that , who seem to want to insult people for no reason. Not that there is any valid reason for doing that ! If you read the comments section of any news article, chances are you will see mean and or snarky insults and worse. I have seen these things after articles about a recent tragedy , such as a car crash where people lost their lives, and comments saying “they deserved it” and worse..
And since I cannot imagine saying such things it leaves me not only perplexed but sad & depressed that people are so cruel. And that is when it does not even involve me at all. I then try responding and reasoning with them……which of course, does no good ! Then I start wondering why do I spend my time trying to reason with unreasonable strangers ? I would like to say, I am personally extending you empathy, for the loss of your brother, your grief and for the awful online experience you had. I cling to the fact that there are probably more good people than bad; we must try to seek out the positive ones and keep the negative ones at arms’ length. The holidays are difficult for so many people , including me, which I won’t go into but I try to surround myself with good people and not give in to my instinct to withdraw into myself.