The wild thing here is that it is pretty clear how to weather a bad-faith mob attack - Don't give a single inch - Senior staff particularly protect and defend individual victims - Actively attack the mob as bad-faith, racist, liars, etc Climategate really taught us this more than a decade ago
Shellenberger’s going after trans people/WPATH now, too.
If the folks in power don't operate from the understanding that bigotry and threats have no place and the people who work for them are worth protecting, the trolls will invade like bedbugs. Appeasement does nothing because there's nothing they really want except to bully.
And for the institution’s leaders: there’s nothing you can do to appease these people. What you CAN do, if you’re not careful, is destroy any trust your own staff have in you.
Bad faith arguments on the internet (particularly libertarians): Rational Person (P): 2+2=4. Libertarian (L): Actually that is not true. P (holding two apples): would you agree that this is two apples? L: y P (holding another two apples): Now? L: of course. I am very smart
Related phenom: I've observed multiple univs deal w/ blatantly bad faith arguments from students, often wrt to academic/campus violations. Sometimes admin treats their BS w/ contempt it deserves; other times they'll just cave. What doesn't matter: Clarity of facts; student's prior record/reputation
Same as for a good-faith mob attack too
There is a *reason* climategate didn't happen a second time. Even with slimy PR guys like Michael Shellenberger constantly trying to stomp on women / poc working in climate and energy. We know the playbook and we regularly punch back with much greater force.