Well, it's stupid but I learned the hard way if you don't shut down people who slander in the tech world then the rumor mongers take it to mean you're weak and

Well, it's stupid but I learned the hard way if you don't shut down people who slander in the tech world then the rumor mongers take it to mean you're weak and the slanderers are right. Sucks, but the alternative is to give folks with no integrity a way to tear you down. In other words, there really is no higher ground in tech unless you're already rich.