There are a lot of injured and otherwise angry people out there. I have sympathy for them. But sometimes that translates into them calling journalists nasty names for not immediately jumping on whatever crackpot story they think they have. It happens a lot.
Please post their messages. That is journalism too. We might benefit from knowing just how many people are struggling to the point of nastiness.
i have a dear friend who was a journalist and editor for many years. i once sat next to her while she took a phone call from someone who had some, um, interesting theories on covid and other assorted conspiracies that she "should" be reporting on. it was eye-opening.
That's why I don't give out my phone number. I'd be doing nothing else, all day long.
smart. very smart.