Inquirer staff writer Maria Panaritis will chat live about her Sunday story at noon today. Feel free to submit questions now...

Hi everyone.   Well, it's been quite a couple of days, juggling the massive reader response to my article about Bob The Customer and Bob The Produce Man.   I have received hundreds of emails and about 100 calls from you, the readers, since this story was published in the early and final editions of the Sunday Inquirer.   Many of you have said you  wanted help the Acme worker who was fired.    Others have expressed dissatisfaction with his dismissal and have stated intentions to alter your shopping habits as a result.

For this chat, however, I'd like to reflect on the  readers who  wrote me saying  they liked the story because it gave them  a chance to reflect on their  own lives and how they  interact with the people they  meet every day.  

One early email said: "We must be kinder to each other.   Typically I am as cold as the next person.   But nothing is typical now. Your story was great -- Bob the customer allowed the 'best of' human spirit guide him and do a simple yet extraordinary act - he wrote you.   Right now, we have to be better, more compassionate to each other, I think your story will help."

How about you?   What was your take on this story?   Do you agree or disagree with this letter writer?   Why did this story strike such a chord with so many of you out there?

I spoke with Acme yesterday and the company offered no feedback on the story.

You know, Chris, as a reporter on the Business Desk I have been exposed to a lot of that economic insecurity by virtue of the stories I've had to research and write.   Business owners suffering, facing unforeseen circumstances that are forcing them to shut down.   People suddenly unemployed, layoff numbers rising, anxiety about savings accounts.   You may be on to something with that comment.

RJR - It's hard to know for sure what, if any, similarities the two cases share.   I read a story recently in The Washington Post about how, nationwide, there seemed to be a trend emerging of employees being fired for  infractions that, just a few years ago, didn't seem to generate as many terminations. The story cited an Urban Institute report, if I recall correctly, and included interviews with officials on the ground.   Feel free to check it out at www.washingtpost.com if the topic interests you.

John - you are not alone in sharing that sentiment.   There's not much I can offer in terms of advice here, given that I'm a reporter, and this conversation is part of my newsgathering duties.   I think it's really interesting, though, that a single story in a newspaper can prompt this kind of response.   The idea of paying forward, how many of you find yourselves thinking this way in your daily lives?