Last month, Representative Nancy Mace got into an expletive laden argument with one her constituent in a store after he asked her if she was going to have a town hall any time soon.

Apparently, town halls are a touchy subject with many Republican members of Congress after a number of them have resulted in rather raucous situations. It’s almost like asking a vampire to stroll through a garlic festival—there’s bound to be discomfort, a bit of hissing, and the overwhelming urge to bolt for the nearest exit. For some reason, the notion of facing a room full of constituents armed with questions and maybe just a dash of outrage has become about as appealing as volunteering for jury duty on a Monday morning.

And honestly, who can blame them? Town halls these days have a tendency to transform into unsanctioned therapy sessions, where the collective grievances of a community are aired out like last season’s laundry. People want answers, and not just the kind that fit nicely on a bumper sticker. They want explanations for policy decisions, accountability for votes cast, and—heaven forbid—a shred of empathy. But hey, why engage when you can just blame it on “security concerns” and call it a day?

For Nancy Mace, it seems even the mere mention of a town hall is enough to bring out her inner demon. It’s as if being asked actually to talk to the people you represent is now a form of cruel and unusual punishment.