I link to (and read) Jeff Jarvis more than any of the Big Time Bloggers. He has a forward-thinking attitude on a lot of topics, and “gets” the ideas presented in The Cluetrain Manifesto, a business book that in many ways set the tone for this site.

His latest entry discusses an anonymouse he’s been dealing with in his site’s comments, and transfers that experience to the heavy criticism that America’s been taking on the world stage. America deserves criticism for many of our government’s heavy-handed policies. I’m not proud of our track record (under any administration in my lifetime). We’re better for the vetting that criticism offers.

But, what Jarvis is facing, and America deals with as the current big boy on the block, is what hip-hoppers call “haters.” I recently wrote about such a viewpoint. There’s no pleasing or appeasing a certain vocal segment. They’re free, just like all of us, to share an opinion. But, hater diatribes on either side sure get old quick.

Recent examples include the screeches against the New York Times and Al Gore’s movie An Inconvenient Truth. The Times still does some of the best reporting anywhere in the world. Whether you like it or not, the First Amendment is the cornerstone of the states’ contract with the federal government to prevent the rise of tyranny. And, Al Gore, whatever you think of him, deserves due respect. He’s offered plenty of constructive thoughts over the course of his public career, rather than sit on the sidelines and lob rhetorical dud grenades.

My humble suggestion for the haters out there: Knock it off. Take a deep breath and inhale that strong opinion. Let it roll around in your lungs. Let your lungs filter it up to your brain, where it can ferment into a complete thought.

Then, when you do open your mouth, maybe you’ll exhale a constructive idea. We’ll all be better for it.