It's totally natural to react that way. But it's part of a loop where more ordinary people with any sort of doubts about facts stay silent lest they be treated

It's totally natural to react that way. But it's part of a loop where more ordinary people with any sort of doubts about facts stay silent lest they be treated like those with the vilest hates, and so free speech on the matter becomes a more-informative sign of vileness, and around the loop until an equilibrium is reached. There's a book on this dynamic from the 1990s, referenced here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preference_falsification https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preference_falsification You might think this an OK way to reach a needed consensus, but I doubt it -- Kuran's book mentioned he thought some kind of electoral revolt was likely if the U.S. kept on its course.