Six paragraphs on page 12 of the Oct. 19 Barrington Times launched a national outcry and the ugliest treatment of a private citizen in memory. Murderers, rapists and serial abusers have fared better than Alan Sorrentino did after his “Please, women, put away the yoga pants” letter.

That’s not hyperbole, as the past week in Barrington has seen hyperbole reach new heights.

Mr. Sorrentino is a private citizen and occasional government watchdog. Until last week, he had shared his opinions on community issues like gunshots, loose dogs and the town beach.

Then he aimed his pen at yoga pants.

Credit those who responded appropriately. This week's edition of the Barrington Times includes many letters from readers who took the time to criticize, or support, Mr. Sorrentino in kind — with a written letter including their name and address. Their words are measured, mature and fair.

The same cannot be said for the mob that marched through a quiet Barrington neighborhood on Sunday.

Women, men and children offended by Mr. Sorrentino’s opinions have every right to denounce those opinions, even to gather in protest. Had they assembled at the beach, the Town Hall, the school parking lot or the town shopping center, they could have celebrated their rights, and women’s rights, made a public statement, and still attracted the national media throng that has followed this story.

By invading Mr. Sorrentino’s private space (yes, we equate Sunday’s march through the streets to an invasion of private space), they crossed a line. Gather any crowd in such fashion and despite all promises of “peaceful” proceedings, you create a potentially volatile mix.

The residents living in that neighborhood had no idea who might be mingling in that crowd or what their intentions were. In response to six paragraphs in the local newspaper, their march felt heavy-handed, threatening, intimidating and totally without perspective.

Furthermore, the organizers’ determination to parade directly past his house, mixed with social media attacks on Mr. Sorrentino and his character, fueled a climate of anger, vitriol and vengeance. Cue the death threats and verbal assaults, from the anonymous and offended. Even if it turns out teens were leaving the threats, they arrived within a toxic environment, when it was difficult to separate the serious from the absurd.

The Yoga Pants Parade will fade quickly from the national spotlight, but it will linger longer here in Barrington.

“Yoga pant” jokes will be around for a long time, but the impact goes deeper. Who now will have the courage to share their opinions publicly? Will a critic of the middle school bond keep her thoughts to herself, lest the angry mob descend on her home? Will the advocate for affordable housing speak up, knowing so many in town stand in opposition?

Many thousands have called this spectacle a “celebration.” It may have started that way, but it ended as an embarrassment.