not to mention, respectfully, responding directly and quickly to things like this are exactly the mechanism by which inciting points like this tend to succeed.

recognize the patterns at play, and recognize whether or not the people who are already out for blood would accept any response short of total surrender.

the best option here is to wait and cover one's bases - instead of trying to barricade the front door and now have everyone asking why they felt the need to barricade their front door, so to speak, the best they can do is let people simmer, to allow the thought behind everything to shift from a reactionary response to one that can be spoken to.

accept that there will always be some who will never change their minds, who were perhaps already looking for some excuse, and respond completely, decisively, and cleanly, rather than piecemeal as a hasty reaction.