Awww, Libby, thank you soooo much for including me in your beautiful comments!! That was so lovely of you and what a wonderful start to my day!
However...I'm so sorry this has happened to you! It's deeply disturbing to experience this at all, never mind when it affects you financially and can damage your reputation.
If an initial comment seems more than just someone disagreeing and only trying to be mean or get a rise out of me, I usually just delete (where possible) or ignore them. If they're just being rude in offering a difference of opinion, I'll reply as politely as possible, as I'm quite sure you do, too. We can work with those people! Sometimes they even soften up a bit. It's the ones who are out to be vicious for the sake of it that are the problem. They want attention and power and if we don't give them these, they get bored and go play elsewhere - usually. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know! Just validating.
You always handle yourself with such grace and with warmth and kindness - even in this misery! You're an inspiration!
You're right to "take the high road." Just keep being your beautiful self, shining your radiant light and those who are meant to see it will find you. Big hugs!!