The whole story is so unbelievable. How can adults behave that way? I don't understand how an adult can make up a fictional character, engage a teenager in conversation, and consider that appropriate. Possible mental illness on some level? Definitely immature thinking going on here...
But still, however inappropriate the people in town believe the action is, they are not helping anyone by violent behavior. And finally, if I ever made a mistake in judgement as badly as that and behaved poorly enough to cause such terrible reaction, (...if I managed to ever get out of my own depression) I would pack up and leave. Time to start over.
