The Tennessean’s story today on Comcast has generated dozens of hostile comments from readers unhappy with the cable and internet provider, including one by someone claiming to be an employee who is calling out local executives by their names and email addresses.

It isn’t especially surprising to me to see all of this angst, but it did make me wonder exactly why so many people loathe the local cable company. Here’s what I think drives this wrath:

• Limited options: Comcast has a functional monopoly as the county’s only cable provider. Consumers are rarely satisfied with large corporations that don’t have to worry about losing market share.
• Poor customer service: Comcast isn’t alone in this, but it’s well documented in the comments and at comcastmustdie.com that this isn’t a strong suit for the company. Feeling ignored only breeds contempt.
• Pricing: Deceptive introductory offers and pricing plans intended to drive consumers to spend more money to get what they want don’t help. (Again, this isn’t limited to Comcast.)
• Corporate resentment: It’s easier to hate a large company that isn’t based in the local area. You can still hate your neighbor, but your neighbor has a face and a driveway next door. Lashing out against an anonymous conglomerate is much simpler to justify. (For what it’s worth, I like the people who live on both sides of my house, but none of them read this blog.)

What would it take for Comcast (or AT&T, for that matter) to please its customers and its shareholders? Is that a realistic goal?

Full disclosure: My employer serves AT&T as one of its clients, though I don’t do any work on their behalf. Many local residents, including several in The Tennessean’s comments section, feel the same way about AT&T that they do about Comcast, to be fair. My opinions are my own.