I'm sorry he responded so poorly; it would have been nice to have received a reply that was at least neutral, to feel like one's effort over the years was not wholly a waste of one's time and things had changed from one's callow youthfulness. I think the "pearls before swine" image is quite appropriate to your story given the actual reference text (Matthew 7:6); you cast, it was trampled underfoot and he turned to rip you to shreds. . .again.