If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.

How many times did you hear that phrase from a parent, adult or teacher as a child? We’ve all known about that golden rule since our days on the elementary school playground. And we’ve all most certainly broken it from time to time.

I read an article last week by a writer who demolished this rule, so much so that I haven’t stopped thinking about his harsh and ignorant words. The author was yet another person who calls himself a reporter and writer and used his powerful platform to degrade running and everyone who runs. It seems that writers and once reputable news outlets everywhere are jumping on this bandwagon of “let’s post a controversial piece on how much we hate running to drive visits because we’ve stooped so low that we no longer cover important, empowering and inspiring topics that really make a difference because we’ll sell ourselves to the devil for some web traffic and social media attention.”

The writer who most recently jumped on this wagon of ignorance posted on Twitter over the weekend boasting how his anti-running article had created the most shares and likes of all-time.

While each of us should always be free to share different opinions and passions and to disagree, why would we ever want to break other people down to drive our success? During a time when our nation is so divided, why would we want to demean people who are doing something positive and worthwhile to drive traffic and “likes?” Is mocking others who are trying to be their best selves really worth an extra click?

Call me naïve, but I believe anyone who has a platform to share messages – be it a stage as large as a major media outlet or as small as my little ole’ running blog – should use that platform for as much good as possible. Particularly when it comes to a subject that is changing lives in a positive way.

The author (whose name, links and outlet shall remain unnamed because none of us who care about the running community should drive a single click his way) wrote that runners are one of the most nauseating groups of people behind ISIS and that there is literally nothing impressive about running a marathon.

I know a runner who loves to run marathons because she wants to show her two sons that they can do anything when they work hard.

I know a runner who recently started running to honor her daughter who has a life-threatening disease that requires her to be in a wheelchair and who will never know what it is like to stand or walk, let alone run.

I know a runner who has lost more than 100 pounds through running and changed from being on a path of obesity and death to being a healthy, inspiring mom.

I know a runner who has had cancer for more than 10 years and runs because it makes her feel strong.

I know a runner who said the best day of her life was when she crossed the finish line of a half marathon because she never believed she could do it.

If making fun of people like that with condescending words and ignorant statements is something you find enjoyable, my corner of the Internet is probably not for you.

I encourage all of us to focus our words on building each other up, supporting people who are trying to do good things for themselves and their lives and be a force for positivity. There is plenty of negativity out in the world. Change starts with each of us.